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NASA Detects Lightning-Like Discharge on Mars, Revealing Surprising Insights

2/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) detected a lightning-like discharge, a whistler, on Mars on June 21, 2015.
The electromagnetic signal shows discharges occur in the Martian atmosphere, similar to those on Earth.
The whistler was recorded over a localized magnetic field at an altitude of 349 kilometers.
The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest lightning may be more frequent on Mars than thought, with implications for life.

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Story summary

NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) detected a lightning-like discharge, a whistler, on Mars on June 21, 2015.
The electromagnetic signal shows discharges occur in the Martian atmosphere, similar to those on Earth.
The whistler was recorded over a localized magnetic field at an altitude of 349 kilometers.
The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest lightning may be more frequent on Mars than thought, with implications for life.