NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers "Mini-Lightning" Electrical Discharges in Mars' Atmosphere

Nov 27, 2025 02:59 am CST

NASA's Perseverance rover has made a groundbreaking discovery of electrical discharges in Mars' atmosphere, described as "mini-lightning." Using its SuperCam instrument, the rover detected 55 electrostatic events associated with dust devils over two Martian years. This first-ever documentation of Martian atmospheric electricity has significant implications for understanding the planet's climate, future exploration safety, and potential habitability conditions.