Scientists Just Found Small-Scale Lightning on Mars. What Does It Mean?

Scientists Just Found Small-Scale Lightning on Mars. What Does It Mean?

Scientists have now detected tiny lightning bolts on Mars for the first time, thanks to the microphone on NASA’s Perseverance rover.

Listen to the sound of lightning on Mars

With science currently under attack, it's nice to be reminded that there is still some pretty incredible work being done. The Perseverance rover has been driving around Mars since 2021, taking samples to – hopefully – be returned to Earth for analysis, and collecting hordes of data about the red planet. — Read the rest The post Listen to the sound of lightning on Mars appeared first on Boing Boing.

Electric Sparks Detected By Perseverance In Mars Dust Devils And Storms - Astrobiology

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has recorded the sounds of electrical discharges —sparks — and mini-sonic booms in dust devils on Mars. Long theorized, the phenomenon has now been confirmed through audio and electromagnetic recordings captured by the rover’s SuperCam microphone. The discovery, published Nov. 26 in the journal Nature, has implications for Martian atmospheric chemistry, […] The post Electric Sparks Detected By Perseverance In Mars …

Electric Sparks Detected in Martian Dust Devils | NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover

Electric Sparks Detected in Martian Dust Devils | NASA's Perseverance Mars RoverThree Martian dust devils can be seen near the rim of Jezero Crater in this short video made of images taken by a navigation camera aboard NASA’s Perseverance rover on Sept. 6, 2025.NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has recorded the sounds of electrical discharges—sparks —and mini-sonic booms in dust devils on planet Mars. Long theorized, the phenomenon has now been con…

NASA Rover Detects Electric Sparks in Mars Dust Devils, Storms

Perseverance confirmed a long-suspected phenomenon in which electrical discharges and their associated shock waves can be born within Red Planet mini-twisters.

NASA’s Perseverance Records First-Ever Mini-Lightning on Mars

NASA’s Perseverance rover has captured the first confirmed mini-lightning sparks in Mars’ dusty atmosphere. Using its sensitive microphone, the rover recorded 55 tiny electrical discharges during dust storms over two Martian years. These sparks generate reactive chemicals that can break down organic molecules, affecting future life-detection efforts. The discovery also highlights potential risks to spacecraft electronics and the need for better …