A friendship with Lal; Ramanath Cowsik: Geophysical searches for new forces in nature; D.A. Mendis & G. Arrhenius: Electrodynamic control in planetesimal accretion; Mark H. Thiemens & S.K. Bhattacharya: New quantum chemical isotope effects: Applications to the pre-solar nebula, planetary atmosphere and interstellar space; James R. Arnold: Cosmogenic and radiogenic nuclides: What can we do with a few atoms?; Helmut Moritz: The earth as a physical laboratory; P. McConville & J.H. Reynolds: A trial of static Fourier transform mass spectroscopy of xenon; Michel Maurette et al; Multidisciplinary investigations of new collections of Greenland and Antarctica micrometeorites; G. Cini Castagnoli: Cyclic behaviour of the solar-terrestrial system; Bruce A. Bolt: The turbulence of geophysical time; Karl K. Turekian: The parameters controlling planetary degassing based on 40 Ar systematics; R.J. Poreda et al: Rare gases and hydrogen in native metals; Rama - Emanation of radon from rock minerals; E.M. Galimov: Several considerations on the early history of the Earth; Manfred Schidlowski: Life on the early Earth: bridgehead from cosmos or autochthonous phenomenon?; Tsung-Hung Peng et al: Factors controlling the distribution of 10 Be and 9 Be in the ocean; P.K. Das and A.P. Dube: Asymptotes of coastal upwelling; T.N. Narasimhan: Hydrogeology, A new focus; Subir K. Banerjee: Geomagnetic paleointensity from quaternary sediments: Methodology, results and future prospects; Peter J. Wyllie: Steps towards understanding the Earth's dynamic interior; Jagannadham Akella: Application of diamond-anvil-cell technique to study f-element metals and some materials relevant to planetary interiors; Shiv K. Sharma: Applications of Raman spectroscopy in earth and planetary sciences.

This volume of essays on Earth and planetary sciences has been presented as a tribute to Professor Devendra Lal, a distinguished physicist and former Director of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.