MAVEN Spacecraft Finds New Plasma Squeezing at Mars

Artist’s illustration of the Zwan-Wolf effect at Mars, which is an atmospheric effect involving the solar wind, and was observed by NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) spacecraft in December 2023. (Credit: LASP/CU Boulder)

A cloaked alien invasion force is approaching Earth and coming up on Mars. The first officer looks through a viewfinder and says, “Captain, the fourth planet’s atmosphere is behaving strangely. As though it were trying to block incoming energy.” The captain takes a moment, then his (already big) eyes get wide and he exclaims, “It’s a defense shield! The Earthlings are hiding on the fourth planet and are prepared to attack us! Abort the invasion!” The first officer responds, “Aye aye, Captain!”

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