For the first time, a NASA rover has detected evidence of lightning on Mars, capturing the faint “zaps” produced by the planet’s persistent dust storms through its onboard microphone.
Scientists have long speculated that electrical discharges might occur in the Martian atmosphere, but confirming this phenomenon has been challenging, until now.
According to a study published in Nature, NASA’s Perseverance rover, which has been exploring Mars since 2021, accidentally recorded these tiny electrical events.
Unlike the dramatic, kilometre-long lightning bolts seen on Earth, these Martian discharges are minuscule. Lead author Baptiste Chide from France’s CNRS research centre described them as similar to the static shocks you might get from touching a car door on a dry day.
“Although low in energy, these zaps are happening constantly and all over the planet,” Chide said.
The process begins when microscopic dust particles rub against each other, becoming electrically charged. This energy is then released in small arcs, only a few millimetres or centimetres long, producing an audible shock.
While dust storms and whirlwinds in Earth’s deserts can generate electrical fields, they rarely result in actual discharges. On Mars, however, the thin atmosphere and unique composition mean that even a small buildup of charge can trigger a discharge.
The idea of dust-induced lightning on Mars has existed since the early days of planetary exploration and has been replicated in lab experiments. In 2016, the European Space Agency’s Schiaparelli lander carried instruments specifically to search for these discharges, but the spacecraft crashed during landing.
Since then, the phenomenon had largely been overlooked—until Perseverance’s SuperCam microphone inadvertently captured the signals.
Daniel Mitchard, a lightning researcher at Cardiff University who was not involved in the study, told Nature that the findings provide “convincing evidence of dust-generated electrical discharges,” though he cautioned that debate may continue because the events were heard, not visually observed.
The discovery may offer new insights into Martian climate dynamics. Chide explained that dust drives the planet’s weather in a way comparable to Earth’s water cycle, and the seasonal dust storms could trigger more of these discharges.
These electrical events might also play a role in breaking down organic molecules—the building blocks of life—on the Martian surface. They could help explain why methane disappears so rapidly on the planet, a mystery that has puzzled scientists.
The findings also carry implications for future Mars missions. Instruments and materials on robotic explorers may need to be designed to withstand these discharges, and human missions will need to consider potential risks to spacesuits and equipment from prolonged exposure.
“In the long term, there may be a risk that astronaut suits could be damaged by these discharges,” Chide noted. “This is something we will have to investigate as we plan for humans on Mars.”