Lightning possibly detected on Mars
Listen to the story (British accent)
Scientists think they have recorded electrical activity in Mars’s atmosphere. This means the planet could have lightning.
NASA's Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in 2021, is looking for signs of past life. The rover's instruments recorded sounds and signals that scientists call "mini lightning" or electrical discharges.
Researchers from France studied the recordings and found that these discharges happen often near dust devils and dust storms. Dust devils are small tornados caused by hot air rising from the ground. Their motion can create electrical discharges.
This is a major discovery that is important for understanding the air and climate of Mars. Some scientists now think Mars joins Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter as planets that are known to have electrical activity.
However, other scientists say it is not certain. Since the discharges were only heard, and not seen, they are not completely sure it was real lightning.
There have been other findings, like the rocks with unusual markings found this year. These markings could contain minerals made by ancient microbes and offer information about past life on Mars.
Vocabulary33 words
- Scientist
- a person who studies science or the natural world; researcher; 👨🔬🥼🧪🔬
- Record
- To save information for later; to keep information for the future, by writing it down or storing it on a computer; 🔴
- Electrical
- Having to do with the power that makes lights and machines work.
- Activity
- The state of being active or busy; something happening; busyness; action; events happening; movement
- Mars
- the red planet in space next to Earth; the fourth planet from the sun
- Atmosphere
- The layer of air and gases that surrounds a planet, like Earth or Mars.
- Planet
- a large object in space that orbits (goes around) a star (Earth is a planet 🌍)
- 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
- Past life
- Things that were once alive a very, very long time ago.
- Instrument
- A special tool or device used to measure or sense things; equipment
- Signal
- A sound or electrical message that carries information; A message that is sent from one place to another;
- Mini
- Very small
- Discharge
- To release energy, often electrical energy, in a quick burst.
- Researcher
- a person who does research; a person who studies something to find new results
- Find
- realize; learn; discover;
- Dust devil
- A small, spinning column of dust and air on the ground.
- Tornado
- A violent and dangerous spinning funnel of wind that moves across the ground; 🌪️
- Cause
- make something (usually bad) happen; create
- Rise
- to increase; to go up; to move upward
- Ground
- floor; earth; solid surface; dirt; what you stand on
- Motion
- The act of moving.
- Major
- very important, big or significant
- Discovery
- the act of finding or learning something that was previously unknown; learn something new that nobody knows
- Climate
- the weather conditions and weather patterns of a place over a long period of time
- Certain
- Sure; without any doubt; definite
- Finding
- A piece of information or fact that is discovered after studying.
- Unusual
- not normal or typical; strange
- Marking
- 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
- Ancient
- related to or from a very long time ago; very old
- Microbe
- A living thing that is so small you can only see it with a powerful microscope.
Quiz
Answer key
1. Electrical discharges 2. The discharges were only heard, not seen. 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Scientists _____ they have recorded electrical activity in Mars’s atmosphere. This means the _____ could have lightning.
NASA's Perseverance _____ , which landed on Mars in _____ , is looking for signs of past life. The rover's instruments recorded _____ and signals that scientists call "mini lightning" or _____ discharges.
Researchers from France _____ the recordings and found that these discharges happen _____ near dust devils and dust storms. Dust devils _____ small tornados caused by hot air rising from the _____ . Their motion can create electrical discharges.
_____ is a major discovery that is important for understanding the air and _____ of Mars. Some scientists now think Mars joins Earth, _____ , and Jupiter as planets that are known to have electrical _____ .
However, other scientists _____ it is not certain. Since the discharges were only _____ , and not seen, they are not completely _____ it was real lightning.
There have been other _____ , like the rocks with unusual markings found this _____ . These markings could contain minerals made by _____ microbes and offer information about past _____ on Mars.
Discussion questions
- Do you think it is important for scientists to find out if Mars has lightning? Why or why not?
- 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 the scientists who only heard the lightning are right to be cautious or not believe it?
- What kind of risks might "mini lightning" or electrical activity create for future human space travelers on Mars?
- Would you want to be one of the first human travelers to visit Mars? Why or why not?
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