Mars' Hidden Sparks: Tiny Lightning Strikes Detected

In a surprising discovery, scientists have found evidence of small lightning strikes on Mars. These tiny sparks were picked up by the microphone on NASA's Perseverance rover. The sounds were recorded during dust storms and dust devils, with 55 instances documented over two Martian years. These electrical discharges are similar to static electricity on Earth and were heard but not seen. The research team, led by Baptiste Chide, analyzed 28 hours of recordings. They found that these mini lightning strikes lasted from a few seconds to up to 30 minutes. The thin Martian atmosphere makes the sounds faint, but they are still detectable. This discovery opens up new ways to study Mars and its atmosphere. However, not all scientists are convinced. Daniel Mitchard from Cardiff University believes more evidence is needed. He points out that the microphone was designed to record laser zaps, not lightning. Until new instruments confirm these findings, some scientists will remain skeptical. Mars' atmosphere is different from Earth's. It is more prone to electrical discharges due to the contact between dust and sand grains. While the chance of a person being struck by lightning on Mars is low, these small sparks could still affect sensitive equipment. This isn't the first time sounds from Mars have been recorded. Earlier, we heard the rover's wheels crunching and the helicopter's blades whirring. Perseverance has been exploring a dry river delta since 2021, collecting rock samples for signs of ancient life. These samples are planned to be returned to Earth, but the mission is on hold as cheaper options are explored. In other Mars news, two small satellites, Blue and Gold, were launched by Blue Origin. These satellites aim to study how the sun has stripped away Mars' once-thick atmosphere. The mission, called ESCAPADE, will take several years to reach Mars and will provide valuable data about the planet's atmosphere. Mars once had a global magnetic field like Earth's, but it has mostly frozen over time. Without this protective field, Mars' atmosphere is constantly bombarded by high-speed particles from the sun. This has led to the thin atmosphere we see today.