Researchers analyzing data from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft have discovered a phenomenon that compresses plasma in the upper atmosphere of Mars [1].
This discovery, known as the Zwan-Wolf effect, challenges previous scientific assumptions about how the Red Planet's magnetic environment interacts with solar winds. Understanding this process is critical for determining how Mars loses its atmosphere over time, and whether it could have ever supported life.
The effect occurs in the ionosphere, the region of the upper atmosphere where planetary plasma meets the solar wind [1, 3]. According to the research, the interaction between solar-wind-driven plasma waves and the Martian magnetic environment creates a squeezing motion [1, 4]. Scientists said this process is like squeezing toothpaste, as it compresses the plasma in a manner previously thought impossible on Mars [1, 2, 3].
The findings were first reported in June 2024 [1]. The analysis relied on data collected by MAVEN, including observations that extended into late 2025 [1, 2].
While the discovery provides new insights into Martian physics, the status of the hardware used to find it is currently under scrutiny. Some reports indicate that MAVEN fell silent in late 2025, and NASA is working to restore contact with the spacecraft [2]. Other reports focus on the data analysis without mentioning a loss of communication [1].
Dr. Zwan and Dr. Wolf were among the scientists who analyzed the "wiggles" in the data that led to the identification of the Zwan-Wolf effect [1, 2]. The discovery suggests that the Martian atmosphere is more dynamic and subject to more complex electromagnetic pressures than previous models predicted [4].
“The Zwan-Wolf effect compresses plasma in a manner previously thought impossible on Mars.”
The identification of the Zwan-Wolf effect suggests that current models of planetary atmospheric erosion are incomplete. By demonstrating that plasma can be compressed in unexpected ways, scientists can better calculate the rate at which solar winds strip away a planet's atmosphere, providing a blueprint for studying other exoplanets in similar stellar environments.
