For the first time, scientists have detected tiny lightning bolts on Mars. These discharges were found around NASA’s Perseverance rover, emerging from dust storms and swirling dust devils. This exciting discovery sheds light on the source of oxidants like hydrogen peroxide, first discovered on Mars in 2003. These oxidants can harm organic materials, making it crucial to understand their origins.
Baptiste Chide from the Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie in Toulouse emphasizes the importance of this finding. “It opens a new field of investigation for Mars,” he shared.
Chide’s team analyzed data from Perseverance’s microphone. They identified 55 electrical events over 29 hours, spread across two Martian years. Each event produced a unique sound signature. Initially, there’s a burst of static, followed by a rapid decrease in signal, caused by the magnetic interference from the discharge. Finally, the recordings capture a shockwave, giving a snapshot of the Martian electrical landscape.
Unlike Earth, where lightning results from storms, Mars lacks this kind of atmospheric water. Thus, its lightning is tied to the friction of dust particles. Chide’s research offers fresh insights, suggesting electrical discharges on Mars occur closer to the rover due to the planet’s thin atmosphere.
According to Daniel Mitchard, a physicist at Cardiff University, the conditions on Mars differ greatly from those on Earth. “The breakdown threshold is higher on Earth because of atmospheric pressure and composition,” he explained. Earth’s dense atmosphere means that lightning requires a significant buildup of charge, while Mars’ atmosphere is less insulating, allowing for easier discharges.
Interestingly, out of the 55 lightning events detected, most coincided with high winds and dust devils. Some discharges happened as dust particles charged the rover, creating a fascinating connection between Martian weather and electrical phenomena.
This discovery even raises questions about past missions. Chide suggests that the 1971 Soviet Mars 3 mission, which failed shortly after landing during a dust storm, might have been affected by such electrical discharges.
Looking ahead, Chide believes that the data from Perseverance will help engineers design better Mars missions. Knowing the energy levels of these discharges could inform the specifications for future electronic equipment and spacesuits for astronauts.
While only the microphone has detected these electrical events, there’s curiosity about whether Perseverance’s cameras could capture the lightning. Chide notes that imaging these brief events would be challenging due to their short duration and the dusty Martian atmosphere. However, advancements in camera technology might change that in the future.
The presence of lightning also ties into the understanding of oxidants on Mars. These compounds can chemically alter organic materials, making them relevant for astrobiology. Chide explains that areas with more oxidants might also have more dust devils, which could lead to more electrical discharges. This raises intriguing possibilities about where future missions could search for signs of life.
Surprisingly, while lightning is known to occur on gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, this is the first discovery of such phenomena on a rocky planet, opening the door to similar events on other celestial bodies, like Venus and Titan.
This electrifying research not only changes how we view Martian weather but could also play a significant role in the planet’s climate and dust cycle. The findings were published in the journal Nature on November 26.
