Boffins say that the chance discovery opens up a ‘completely new field of investigation’ on the Red Planet after recording dozens of ‘mini lightning’ over two years
A NASA rover has uncovered what scientists believe to be lightning strikes on Mars.
The “chance discovery” was made by researchers listening in on swirling winds recorded by NASA’s Perseverance rover. A team of scientists documented 55 instances of what they term “mini lightning” across two Martian years, or nearly four Earth years, which were chiefly detected during dust storms and dust devils.
The electrical discharges from these ‘lightning’ strikes were picked up by a microphone aboard the rover, with nearly all occurring on Mars’ windiest solar days. The breakthrough follows half a century of scientists searching for electrical activity and lightning on Mars, according to the study’s lead author Baptiste Chide, from the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology in Toulouse.
“It opens a completely new field of investigation for Mars science,” Chide said, citing the possible chemical effects from electrical discharges. “It’s like finding a missing piece of the puzzle.”
The electrical arcs measured just a few inches across and happened within six feet of the microphone positioned on the rover’s towering mast – part of equipment designed to analyse Martian rocks, reports the Manchester Evening News.
In the recordings, sparks from the electrical discharges, similar to static electricity on Earth, can be heard amongst the howling wind gusts and dust particles hitting the microphone.
Whilst the evidence appears compelling, experts emphasise it relies on a single instrument designed for rock analysis, not lightning detection. “It really is a chance discovery to hear something else going on nearby, and everything points to this being Martian lightning,” revealed Daniel Mitchard from Cardiff University, who wasn’t part of the study.
However, he added that until new instruments are sent to confirm the findings, “I think there will still be a debate from some scientists as to whether this really was lightning.”
Lightning has already been confirmed on Jupiter and Saturn, and it’s long been suspected that Mars might also have it.
To discover it, the research team analysed 28 hours of recordings from the Perseverance rover, documenting instances of “mini lightning” based on acoustic and electric signals.
Electrical discharges created by the swift-moving dust devils lasted only a few seconds, while those triggered by dust storms persisted for up to 30 minutes.
“It’s like a thunderstorm on Earth, but barely visible with a naked eye and with plenty of faint zaps,” explained Chide.
He pointed out that the thin, carbon dioxide-rich Martian atmosphere absorbs much of the sound, making some of the zaps barely noticeable.
Since 2021, Perseverance has been exploring a dry river delta on Mars, collecting rock samples for potential signs of ancient microscopic life.
NASA plans to bring these core samples back to Earth for lab analysis, but the delivery is currently on hold as the space agency explores more cost-effective options.
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