A Pacific Northwest Nuclear Laboratory physicist will discuss the Higgs boson particle Tuesday in Richland.

Gravity and electromagnetism are only two of the four forces studied by physicists. Researchers also are exploring the other two, the so-called strong and weak forces.

PNNL physicist David Asner, a member of the Belle Collaboration, has focused on exploring "the strong force" to get a better understanding of the universe.

Asner will speak at 7 p.m. at a meeting of the Eastern Washington Chapter of the American Nuclear Society at the Shilo Inn in Richland. There is no cost to attend his talk, but those who want to attend a dinner meeting an hour earlier will be charged $22 and should make reservations before 4 p.m. today by calling 366-9632.