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Story summary
- NASA's Perseverance rover recorded 55 electrical discharges, described as "mini lightning," during dust storms and dust devils over two Martian years.
- The discharges could influence Mars' atmospheric chemistry and pose risks to robotic missions and future astronauts.
- The phenomenon arises from friction of dust grains and marks the first documentation of electrical activity in Mars' atmosphere.
- Researchers say additional instruments are needed to verify the findings.
