Scientists have made an exciting discovery on Mars: they detected what seems to be lightning. This finding comes from the data collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover, which captured the buzz of electrical discharges while recording Martian winds.
The research, led by Baptiste Chide from the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology, reported 55 instances of small “mini lightning” events over two Martian years, especially during dust storms and swirling dust devils. These electrical discharges were recorded close to the rover’s microphone, located on top of its mast, which is usually used for examining rocks.
Chide describes these discharges as similar to static electricity found on Earth, and they are noticeable even amid the noise of the Martian winds. This discovery opens up new avenues for exploring Mars’s environment and potential chemical reactions caused by these electrical bursts.
However, the evidence relies mainly on one instrument designed for another purpose, which raises questions. Daniel Mitchard, a Cardiff University researcher who wasn’t part of the study, pointed out that the sounds were recorded but not visually observed, leading to some skepticism among scientists until further verification can be done.
The concept of lightning on Mars isn’t entirely new; it has been theorized for years. In addition to Mars, lightning has been confirmed on gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. Chide’s team analyzed 28 hours of recordings from Perseverance, marking episodes of mini lightning. These discharges mostly lasted seconds, but some during dust storms persisted for up to 30 minutes.
Chide notes that Mars has a thin, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, which absorbs much of the sound – making the discharges difficult to detect without specialized equipment. Despite the small scale of these electrical events, Mitchard comments they could pose challenges for delicate machinery on the planet.
Mars’s atmosphere, more conducive to electrical activity than Earth’s, makes these findings particularly interesting. This might mean that future astronauts could be at minimal risk from lightning strikes while exploring the surface. However, the frequent static discharges could still be problematic.
The Perseverance rover has been in operation since 2021, meticulously collecting rock samples to search for signs of ancient life. While initial plans to bring these samples back to Earth remain on hold for cost reasons, they could drastically change our understanding of Mars.
In related news, Blue Origin recently launched two small NASA satellites aimed at studying Mars’s atmosphere and how it has changed over time. Named Blue and Gold, these probes are part of the ESCAPADE mission. They will take a winding route, arriving at Mars in 2027. Understanding Mars’s atmospheric evolution is vital, especially since the planet once had a protective magnetic field, much like Earth’s.
Scientific organizations continue to show interest in Mars, and the discovery of lightning adds another layer to our fascination with the Red Planet. As technology advances, we can expect more thrilling findings in the coming years.
For more detailed insights, you can check out the study published in Nature.
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Perseverance Mars Rover, Mars, Science, NASA
