Perseverance Records Electrical Sparks and 'Mini‑Sonic Booms' Inside Martian Dust Devils

NASA's Perseverance rover has captured the first direct audio evidence of electrical discharges inside small, dusty whirlwinds on Mars, confirming long-held theories about electrostatic activity in Martian dust devils.

What Was Detected

Perseverance's SuperCam microphone recorded dozens of brief, snap-like sounds and accompanying shockwave signatures that NASA described as "mini‑sonic booms." In all, the team identified 55 distinct electrical events since 2021, 16 of which occurred when dust devils passed directly over the rover.

How The Recordings Were Made

The rover's SuperCam instrument routinely listens while scanning the environment. Dust devils on Mars are unpredictable and short-lived—typically lasting about 10 minutes—so continuous monitoring was essential to capture these rare events. Scientists analyzed the audio signatures and correlated them with observed whirlwinds to confirm the electrical discharges.

"We got some good ones where you can clearly hear the 'snap' sound of the spark," said Ralph Lorenz, a Perseverance scientist and co‑author of the new study.

Why This Matters

The recordings provide empirical proof of the triboelectric effect on Mars—frictional charging of dust particles that can produce sparks, similar to the tiny shock you get after walking across a carpet and touching a doorknob. Because Mars' atmosphere is much thinner than Earth's, the charge needed to produce a spark is lower, making such discharges more likely.

Electrical activity in the atmosphere can drive chemical reactions that break down organic molecules at the surface and change atmospheric chemistry. Confirming these discharges helps scientists better assess how well organic signatures are preserved on Mars and informs engineering and safety planning for future crewed missions.

Scientific Context and Mission Status

The findings were published in the journal Nature (Nov. 26) and highlighted by NASA in a Dec. 3 blog post. Perseverance, which launched in 2020 and reached Jezero Crater in February 2021 after a roughly 200‑day, 300‑million‑mile journey, has spent years exploring the crater floor and by late 2024 climbed the crater rim to begin a new phase of science operations.

Perseverance is one of two car‑sized rovers on Mars (the other is Curiosity). Both search for signs that Mars may once have been habitable; in September NASA reported that one rover sample contained a potential biosignature.

What Comes Next

Researchers will continue to analyze the audio and environmental data to refine models of Martian atmospheric electricity and to understand how frequent and energetic these events are. That information will be crucial for interpreting surface chemistry, protecting delicate instruments, and planning for human exploration.

Bottom line: Perseverance's audio recordings provide the first direct proof that dusty vortices on Mars can produce electrical sparks and shockwaves, with important implications for planetary science and future missions.