Are there thunderstorms on Mars? A planetary scientist explains the red planet’s dry, dusty storms

A rover recently captured sounds of lightning crackling on Mars, over a decade after scientists uncovered the first evidence for electric discharges on the planet.

By: Nilton O. Rennó, University of Michigan, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 19, 2026

Words: 976

Last Updated: 2 months ago

Body Text Preview

By Nilton O. Rennó, University of Michigan

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

Are there thunderstorms on Mars? – Cade, age 7, Houston, Texas

Mars is a very dry planet with very little water in its atmosphere and hardly any clouds, so you might not expect it to have storms. Yet, …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us