Astropedology is the study of very ancient paleosols and meteorites relevant to the origin of life and different planetary soil systems. It is a branch of soil science (pedology) concerned with soils of the distant geologic past and of other planetary bodies to understand our place in the universe.[1] A geologic definition of soil is “a material at the surface of a planetary body modified in place by physical, chemical or biological processes”.[1] Soils are sometimes defined by biological activity but can also be defined as planetary surfaces altered in place by biologic, chemical, or physical processes.[2] By this definition, the question for Martian soils and paleosols becomes, were they alive?