Kicker: A sound from space

NICK EICHER, HOST: Okay, if you can guess what this sound is, you are The World and Everything in It Listener of the Year!

AUDIO: [SOUNDS OF DUST DEVIL]

REICHARD: Sounds like one of those little sweepers. The dirt devil.

EICHER: That is the sound of a dust devil. Rumbling gusts and dust particles peppering a microphone. But not just any microphone.

This one is attached to the rover “Perserverence” on Mars.

It sounds similar to dust devils on Earth, but a little quieter since Mars’ thin atmosphere makes for more muted sounds and less forceful wind.

It was the first ever sound of a dust devil captured on Mars. As one NASA official said, they caught it “red handed.”

REICHARD: I see what he did there, red-handed on the red planet. Good one.

EICHER: It’s The World and Everything in It.

NICK EICHER, HOST: Okay, if you can guess what this sound is, you are The World and Everything in It Listener of the Year!

AUDIO: [SOUNDS OF DUST DEVIL]

REICHARD: Sounds like one of those little sweepers. The dirt devil.

EICHER: That is the sound of a dust devil. Rumbling gusts and dust particles peppering a microphone. But not just any microphone.

This one is attached to the rover “Perserverence” on Mars.

It sounds similar to dust devils on Earth, but a little quieter since Mars’ thin atmosphere makes for more muted sounds and less forceful wind.

It was the first ever sound of a dust devil captured on Mars. As one NASA official said, they caught it “red handed.”

REICHARD: I see what he did there, red-handed on the red planet. Good one.

EICHER: It’s The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.