Scientists Attempt to Answer , Lingering Questions About , Oumuamua.br In 2017, astronomers observed the first interstellar object br to pass through our solar system, naming it Oumuamua, br or "messenger from afar arriving first” in Hawaiian.br CNN reports that the object's trip through br our solar system gave rise to a number of br questions that have remained unanswered.br While the object was roughlybr the size of an asteroid, it was oddly shaped, br similar to a cigar or pancake. .br CNN reports that while Oumuamua moved br somewhat like a comet, it also lacked a cometary br tail and was much smaller that known comets.br Most perplexing of all was that br the object appeared to accelerate br on its way out of our solar system.br On March 22, a new study was published br in the journal 'Nature,' which attempts to br answer some of those lingering questions.br A new theory to explain the object's acceleration br centers on Oumuamua being a water-rich br comet containing high amounts of hydrogen.br According to the new theory, that hydrogen was trapped br inside bubbles within the comet's icy interior before br being released by heating from passing by our sun.br The team behind the new theory believe br that the release of hydrogen gas could have br been enough to accelerate the object. .br In 2025, Chile's Vera C. Rubin Observatory will begin operations, aiming to detect and hopefully unravel the mystery of other interstellar travelers like Oumuamua.