Scientists have successfully detected lightning on Mars for the first time by capturing the crackling sound of electrical discharges using NASA’s Perseverance rover.
The crackling sound of discharges was picked up mainly by a microphone on the rover, according to a French team’s report published on Wednesday.
However, researchers have cataloged 55 examples of what they call “mini lightning” over two Martian years, mainly during dust storms and devils.
They have been observed to occur on the stormy days of dust storms.
Scientists have been looking for lightning for a long time, and its detection opens up a new field of research for Mars science.
Lightning has been observed on Jupiter and Saturn, and Mars has long been suspected of having it.
Chide and his team specifically analyzed 28 hours of Perseverance recordings and demonstrated intriguing episodes of mini-lightning based on acoustic and electrical signals.
For the first time, electrical discharges from thunderstorm outflows lasted for up to 30 minutes.
According to lead author Baptiste Chide, Mars’ atmosphere is more susceptible to sparks and sparks from contact between dust particles than Earth’s.
Current evidence suggests that major lightning strikes are unlikely to occur; the small and frequent electrostatic discharges can be harmful to sensitive equipment.
These current developments are not the first Martian sounds emitted by the Preservance rover, but this newly discovered acoustic signature, which is directly linked to the planet’s ubiquitous dust environment, and the hum of the no-longer-flying helicopter, should be factored into future environmental models.
