Scientists have come up with a new explanation for the interstellar object Oumuamua

Oumuamua

Scientists have come up with a new explanation for the interstellar object 'Oumuamua, which was first detected in 2017. The peculiar elongated shape and bizarre behavior of the object led some to speculate that it was an alien vessel, but a new study published in the journal Nature suggests a more down-to-earth explanation.

According to the study, 'Oumuamua may have started out as a water-rich, comet-like object that was blasted by cosmic rays during its interstellar travels. This caused some of the water to convert into hydrogen gas, which became trapped within the object's body. When 'Oumuamua neared the Sun, the heat released the trapped hydrogen, acting as a "thruster boost" that propelled the object on its unexpected path.

The researchers say that this explanation is a "compelling non-alien explanation" for the strange behavior of 'Oumuamua. However, not everyone is convinced. Some scientists, including Avi Loeb of Harvard University, still maintain that the simplest explanation is that 'Oumuamua was alien technology.

Despite the ongoing debate, the study offers a new perspective on 'Oumuamua and provides a physically realistic explanation of its peculiarities. And as more comets are spotted in the coming years, it's possible that new evidence could arise to support or challenge these theories.

For now, however, the study's authors believe that they have offered a convincing explanation of 'Oumuamua's behavior, and that it does not involve aliens or divine forces.