NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered the smallest dust particles ever recorded on Mars, with a diameter of only about 100 nanometers—approximately 500 times thinner than a human hair. This new discovery suggests that Martian dust could pose significant challenges to future human missions to the planet.
According to research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on October 28, ultrafine dust particles were detected clinging to Perseverance's equipment, including samples of materials intended for use in building spacesuits. The six-wheeled rover has been operating in the Jezero crater area in Mars' northern hemisphere since landing in 2021.
Planetary scientist Scott VanBommel of the University of Washington (USA) – a member of the Perseverance research team and the lead author of the study – said that smaller dust particle size does not necessarily mean a higher level of danger in all cases. However, smaller particles are more likely to penetrate deeper into the human body and are more difficult to eliminate.