Scientists have recorded microlightning for the first time on Mars near NASA’s Perseverance rover. The discovery sheds light on how oxidants form on Mars, which can destroy organic matter and hinder the search for traces of life.
Lightning here is not like Earth’s lightning. There are no water clouds on Mars, and electrical discharges occur from the contact of dust particles. Some of the lightning flashes were as close as 2 meters from the rover.
This data is vital for future Mars missions to design protection for electronics and astronauts’ equipment more accurately.
Martian dust storms can produce thousands of small lightning flashes each year, and scientists believe that this plays a vital role in the planet’s climate and dust circulation.
