Ultima Thule may be a frankenworld

Astronomers are closer to uncovering the distant space rock’s origin story

Ultima Thule

SLOW SMASH  The two lobes of Ultima Thule probably came together at the speed of a person walking briskly into a wall, researchers announced.

NASA, JHU Applied Physics Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute, ESA

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Ultima Thule’s history may be written in the sum of its parts.