https://gizmodo.com/days-before-ultima-thule-flyby-new-horizons-has-detect-1831255434
Days Before Ultima Thule Flyby, New Horizons Has Detected Something Weird About Its Distant Target One possibility for this lack of reflected light intensity variation is the existence of a thick atmosphere that enshrouds this kipper belt object. The most likely way that this lack of reflected light variation could be occurring is if there exists an internal heat source to continually melt the gases contained inside this body. “Another explanation,” said Mark Showalter from the SETI Institute, “is that Ultima may be surrounded by a cloud of dust that obscures its light curve, much the way a comet’s coma often overwhelms the light reflected by its central [core].” It’s another decent explanation, but as Showalter admitted, a heat source would be required to produce a coma of this magnitude. The Sun is 4 billion miles away from Ultima, and its rays are likely too weak to produce such an effect. Ultima is purported to be two separate bodies welded together. Without a common atmosphere, it would be impossible for the reflected light curve from such a complex shaped body to be constant. If this is true, then the science community will have something impossible to think about. But we know that this mystery will be the LENR reaction at work for 4.5 billion years in a very small object far from any other possible heat source. We will know the answer to this puzzle shortly on New Year's Day.
