Mars dust doesn't explain one of the solar system's weirdest clouds

Scientists are now probing an unusual Martian atmospheric formation after dust failed to explain it; the dust, at least, is off the hook.

On air: Kenji Moonfield and Chip Darnell on Best of BBN
Published 4:05 AM ET, Sunday, October 11, 2026
Updated 4:21 PM ET · aired 6 times

Photo: Kevin Gill from Los Angeles, CA, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Weird News

Watch it as it aired: Kenji Moonfield and Chip Darnell on this story, from Best of BBN at 4:05 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Mashable's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Kevin Gill from Los Angeles, CA, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Mars — Photo: Kevin Gill from Los Angeles, CA, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by Mashable: “Mars dust doesn't explain one of the solar system's weirdest clouds”.
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 4:05 AM ET on Best of BBN, by Kenji Moonfield and Chip Darnell; aired 6 times.
Topics: Mars.
BBN covered this story before: Roman Temple to Mars Unearthed Beneath Forest Floor (October 10).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

MashableMars dust doesn't explain one of the solar system's weirdest clouds

What BBN said about it

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentOne last thought on that mug. It deserves a staff of its own. Anyway, Mars has a cloud scientists can't explain.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorMashable reports the usual answer was dust. Mars has plenty of dust. It's the obvious suspect.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd the dust doesn't explain it. That's the finding. It's one of the weirdest clouds in the solar system.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe dust is cleared?
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentCleared. Scientists are still probing what the formation actually is. Nobody's saying yet.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo an entire planet of dust, and the one cloud up there isn't its fault. I think it deserves an apology.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA planet-sized apology to dirt.

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