Lightning Strikes Mars: The First Detection of Electrical Discharges and NASA's New Look at Comet 3I Atlas

S28E143 - Lightning Strikes Mars: The First Detection of Electrical Discharges and NASA's New Look at Comet 3I Atlas

Published: December 5, 2025

Duration: 44:35

In this episode of SpaceTime, we explore groundbreaking discoveries and intriguing phenomena from Mars to the depths of space.
Lightning Strikes on Mars: A Historic Discovery
NASA's Perseverance Rover has made a remarkable find by detecting lightning in the Martian atmosphere for the first time. Recorded within two dust devils in Jezero Crater, the rover's Supercam microphone captured electromagnetic and acoustic signals indicative of electrical discharges. This discovery not only confirms long-held theories about Martian electrical activity but also reveals significant implications for the planet's atmospheric chemistry and potential hazards for future missions.