Lightning possibly detected on Mars
Listen to the story (British accent)
Scientists think they heard electricity on Mars. This means Mars could have lightning.
The Perseverance rover is on Mars. It landed in 2021. The rover looks for signs of life from the past.
The rover heard sounds that scientists call "mini lightning." This is electricity moving in the air.
Scientists from France listened to the sounds. They found that mini lightning happens near dust devils.
Dust devils are like small, spinning winds or tornadoes. Hot air from the ground makes them spin. This spinning can make electricity.
This is a big find. It helps us learn about the climate on Mars. Scientists now think Mars has electricity, like Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter.
But some scientists are not sure. They only heard the sounds. They did not see the lightning. So they are not completely sure it is real lightning.
The rover also found rocks with strange marks. These marks might have old minerals. These minerals could tell us about life long ago on Mars.
Vocabulary21 words
- Scientist
- a person who studies science or the natural world; researcher; 👨🔬🥼🧪🔬
- Electricity
- power; current; energy used to operate lights, TVs, etc.; ⚡🔌
- Mars
- the red planet in space next to Earth; the fourth planet from the sun
- Mean
- what something shows; what something stands for
- Lightning
- ⚡; a bright flash of light and electricity during a thunderstorm;
- Rover
- a small vehicle with wheels or tracks, often used to explore other planets;
- Sign
- a signal that something exists or that shows what might happen in the future; indication; demonstration; mark; proof
- Life
- When a plant, animal, or person is alive and growing; 🌱
- Find
- realize; learn; discover;
- Dust
- Very fine/small pieces of dirt; Tiny, dry particles/pieces that float in the air and fall
- Dust devil
- A small, spinning column of dust and air on the ground.
- Spin
- To turn around and around in a circle
- Tornado
- A violent and dangerous spinning funnel of wind that moves across the ground; 🌪️
- Ground
- floor; earth; solid surface; dirt; what you stand on
- Find
- a discovery of something valuable, typically something of archaeological interest; A thing that someone has discovered
- Climate
- the weather conditions and weather patterns of a place over a long period of time
- Earth
- the planet/world we live on 🌎
- Completely
- totally; fully; utterly; wholly; very; 100%
- Strange
- Unusual or surprising; not normal; weird
- Mark
- A spot, line, or area that is different from the surrounding surface.
- Mineral
- A natural substance found in rocks and in the ground; a natural, solid material that is not alive
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Scientists _____ they heard electricity on Mars. This means Mars could have _____.
The Perseverance rover _____ on Mars. It landed in 2021. The rover looks for _____ of life from the past.
The _____ heard sounds that scientists call "mini lightning." _____ is electricity moving in the air.
Scientists _____ France listened to the sounds. They found that _____ lightning happens near dust devils.
_____ devils are like small, spinning winds or tornadoes. _____ air from the ground makes them spin. This spinning _____ make electricity.
This is a big _____. It helps us learn about the climate on _____. Scientists now think Mars has electricity, _____ Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter.
But some scientists _____ not sure. They only heard the _____. They did not see the lightning. So they are not completely sure it is _____ lightning.
The rover also found _____ with strange marks. These marks might have old _____. These minerals could tell us about life long _____ on Mars.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think scientists want to find signs of past life on Mars? What would that mean for people on Earth?
- Do you think it is important to search for life on Mars? Why or why not?
- Scientists heard the "mini lightning" but did not see it. Do you believe the electricity is real lightning? Why?
- Do you think finding minerals in the rocks is better news than hearing the mini lightning? What is more exciting?
- If Mars has lightning and dust devils, do you think people could live there one day?
- The text says the electricity is like on Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter. Which of those planets do you think is the most interesting? Why?
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