Jupiter's Skies Mirror Earth's Lightning Dance
New observations of storms on Jupiter suggest that lightning on the gas giant builds in a step-by-step manner, similar to lightning on Earth. The lightning bolts on both planets seem to move forward in a staggered fashion, resembling a hiker climbing a mountain. These findings not only provide insights into Jupiter's weather patterns but also have implications for the search for alien life, as lightning on Earth has been linked to the formation of chemical ingredients necessary for life. The study analyzed data from NASA's Juno spacecraft, which showed that radio waves from Jupiter's lightning occurred at a similar rate to lightning on Earth, suggesting a step-by-step growth process.
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