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NASA Reveals Dust Devil Data from Mars
saskboy writes "NASA reports that Martian dust devils could be much more destructive than previously considered. You may remember this past April when it was revealed that whirlwinds actually helped the current rovers by cleaning accumulated dust from their solar cells which increased their energy collection efficiency.
But after studying the mini-storms more, they realize that the dust and sand particles could cause static electricity discharges, also known as lightning. The high speed grains of sand blowing around at about 30 meters/second (70 miles per hour) are nothing to blink at either, since they can damage astronauts or equipment on the Martian surface. The height of a Martian dust devil can reach 10km (6 miles), which means it's more like the size of a terran tornado."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_devil
There is nothing like experiencing natural weather first hand. Back in the late 80s (I was about 19) we got a really fast thunderstorm with torrential rain. For some odd reason, I was compelled to take my t-shirt off and run into the middle of my back yard. I ran up and grabbed a towel to stick in the back entrance to my house and then threw the t-shirt, shoes and socks off and ran into the storm. I had a friend over who watched in shock as I did this. Since it was a really hot day (mid 90s) the rain felt really refreshing and the smell of the negative (or is it positive?) ions caused by the lightning was exhilirating. I know it was stupid to run out in the middle of a thunder storm, but I will never forget the experience. It was very different from being caught in the rain while walking somewhere. This was intentional. And I knew where my towel was... ;P (How come stories like these are never told by women on Slashdot?)
-"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
Oh yeah, I put that there so I could get some mod points. Man, I don't know what I'd do without them. I would probably start bitching at every poster you got modded up because I get these withdrawal symptoms, you know, and I start thinking that my judgement about each individual moderation is absolute and that anyone who gets modded up becomes this big criminal that needs to chastised.