Overview
- Researchers report 55 events since 2021, including 16 recorded as dust devils passed directly over the rover in Jezero Crater.
- Each event shows a microsecond electromagnetic burst followed by a faint acoustic snap, consistent with centimeter‑scale static‑like arcs.
- Two standout recordings on Sol 215 and Sol 1,296 captured clear snaps, the dust devil’s passage, and even particles striking the microphone.
- Discharge rates did not rise during Mars’ dustiest seasons, indicating localized turbulence and active particle lifting—not overall dust abundance—drive electrification.
- Confirmed electrical activity could foster oxidants that erode organics and hasten methane loss, and it informs grounding, shielding, and future instruments aimed at direct imaging and energy measurements.