The Large Hadron Collider was shut down by a small mammal

CERN's Large Hadron Collider — the massive, atom-smashing machine that uncovered the Higgs boson — may have met its match: a tiny animal.

The LHC was shut down this week after a marten made its way inside and damaged a transformer. Although early reports had suggested the animal was "a weasel, probably," CERN has released a document laying the blame on a "fouine." Sadly, as NPR reports, the saboteur didn't make it.

An LHC spokesperson told NPR that repairs will require a few days, while it could be mid-May before the LHC is fully operational again.

• ViaNPR
• SourceCERN