NASA's Perseverance rover has accidentally detected lightning-like electrical discharges on Mars, a breakthrough in understanding the planet's climate. These tiny static shocks, caused by dust friction in the thin atmosphere,

Nasa has, for the first time, found signs of 'mini-lightning' on Mars after its rover accidentally recorded tiny “zaps” during the planet’s frequent dust storms. Scientists have argued for years about whether electrical sparks could happen in Mars’ dusty atmosphere,

The researchers examined 28 hours of audio recordings, documenting 55 episodes of what they consider to be “mini lightning” over two Martian years.

Analysis of four years of acoustic recordings made by NASA's rover has allowed scientists to identify 55 episodes of electrical activity, based on the interferences and acoustic signatures characteristic of lightning.