The traditional air vented pumps do not. The newer geothermal heatpumps
use
multiple wells with a closed circulating coolant running 100-200 feet
underground. The temps there are around 55 degrees year round, which is
optimum
for a heat pump in summer or winter.

That's hardly "new." Just about every variant in ground source heat pumps
has been established for years.

Some 6 years ago I was very interested in ground source and other heat
pumps. (My HVAC guy basically said, "forget it" but it was fun looking.)

Anyway, one interesting design for VERY cold climates which was marketed in
Finland used what they called a "Cold Finger." The outside evaporator
presented a vertical "finger" with smooth flutes. In operation, it would
ice up (just like any heat pump in cold weather) but because of the shape
the ice would just flake off. No outside fan, no (or little) defrosting.
And it would look "cool" standing out in your back yard!