Scientists recently confirmed that Mars’ dusty storms can create mini lightning. This breakthrough ends years of speculation. The evidence came from a microphone on NASA’s Perseverance rover. While the rover explored the Jezero Crater, it recorded winds stirring up dust, but also captured unusual crackles and pops. These sounds are tiny electrical discharges that occur within dust devils and storm fronts.
Unlike thunder on Earth, the lightning on Mars produces noises more akin to static electricity, similar to that jarring moment when you touch a doorknob after shuffling your socked feet on a carpet. Over two Martian years, researchers identified 55 brief discharges, often coinciding with nearby dust devils or the arrival of dust storm edges. NASA even released a recording for everyone to listen to.
Ralph Lorenz, a scientist on the Perseverance team, highlighted some recordings where the “snap” of the spark is clear. Dust devils, whirlwinds of dry air and dust, have intrigued scientists for years. Notably, about 13 years ago, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured an extraordinary dust devil reaching 12 miles high.
These Martian dust devils form under similar conditions to those on Earth. They arise on hot, dry days when the ground heats up more than the surrounding area. Dust devils create a funnel-like structure, with rising hot air much like how a spinning ice skater moves faster by pulling their arms inward.
Interestingly, as particles bump into each other, they exchange tiny electric charges. This gradual build-up leads to strong electric fields, potentially causing sparks. Baptiste Chide, a Perseverance scientist in France, explained that Mars’ thin atmosphere allows these sparks to form more easily than on Earth.
For decades, scientists have theorized about Mars having lightning, but this is the first time it’s been directly observed. Though Perseverance hasn’t captured lightning visually, its sensitive instruments recorded electromagnetic signals and sounds during the dust-moving events.
Shockingly, the sparks were linked to the motion and grinding of dust, not just the presence of airborne dust alone. This new information, published in the journal Nature, shows that even seemingly small dust devils may be sending shocks across the Martian landscape.
However, a standard dust devil isn’t the only source of electricity. Thousands of dust storms form each year, likely producing even more electricity than these smaller whirlwinds. This electricity could alter the chemical makeup of Mars’ surface. It can create compounds that are harmful to potential signs of ancient life, explaining why they are challenging to find on the surface.
Understanding these electrical phenomena is crucial for the safety of future missions to Mars. While previous rover missions faced no significant electrical issues, there’s a historical warning. The Soviet Mars 3 lander malfunctioned shortly after landing during a dust storm in 1971, possibly due to electrical sparks.
Mars is generally a quiet planet, which can make its atmosphere feel eerily still. At one point, the Perseverance team even questioned if their microphones were malfunctioning due to the lack of sound. But this discovery of Martian lightning adds an exciting layer to our understanding of the Red Planet.
For more insights, check out NASA’s full report on their official site and read recent studies in Nature about the effects of dust storms on Martian chemistry.
