Final answer:
Secular scientists explain Uranus' formation and characteristics through computer models showing a potential origin closer to the Sun and subsequent outward migration due to gravitational interactions, possibly explaining its axial tilt and temperature distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Secular scientists use computer models and historical analogs to explain the formation and current state of Uranus. They suggest that Uranus and Neptune may have originally formed closer to the Sun, in proximity to Jupiter and Saturn. The low density of matter in the outer solar system disk implies that the formation of Uranus and Neptune would have taken much longer than the lifetime of the disk, supporting the idea of a migration outward due to gravitational interactions. This theory is backed by evidence such as Uranus' peculiar axial tilt, which might result from a major collision, as well as the strange temperature distribution in Uranus' atmosphere, which is higher on the dark winter side than the hemisphere facing the Sun. Additionally, unlike Jupiter and Saturn, Uranus lacks an internal heat source, resulting in a stable atmosphere with minimal visible structure.