Scientists switched on the world’s largest atom smasher for the first time since the $10bn (€6.7bn) machine suffered a spectacular failure more than a year ago.

Engineers have finished the major work of fixing the broken "Big Bang" machine, the largest scientific instrument ever built.

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva will be out of action until the Spring while engineers investigate a fault, it was announced.

A flawless start to the “Big Bang” experiment that will re-enact the first moments of the universe was hailed as a triumph by scientists involved in the project today.

Scientists today launched the "Big Bang experiment" - an attempt to recreate the start of the universe using the biggest and most complex machine yet built.

Scientists will "switch on" the most powerful particle accelerator ever built today in an attempt to answer some of the biggest unanswered questions in physics.

Wexford captain Michael Jacob has urged his side to throw everyting into Sunday's Leinster SHC final.