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Self-repairing electronic chips are one step closer, according to a team of US researchers.

http://www.rapidonline.com/News/Self-repairing-chips-boon-for-space-engineering-3001/?utm_campaign=10034824&utm_content=44693558189&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Emailvision

'The group from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has created a circuit that heals itself when cracked thanks to the release of liquid metal which restores conductivity. The application of the technology could solve one of the key problems of space travel and space-based structures.

The process takes less than the blink of an eye. It works by exploiting the stress that causes the initial damage in the chips. Tiny reservoirs of a healing material are released, filling in the cracks and gaps in the circuitry, restoring electrical flow.

(http://www.rapidonline.com/ImageHandler.axd?id=378)

The researchers said that their work could eventually lead to longer-lasting gadgets as well as providing a simple repair solution for satellites and spacecraft.

"The only avenue one has right now is to simply remove that circuitry when it fails and replace it - there is no way to manually go in and fix something like this," according to aerospace engineering professor Scott White.

"I think the real application area that you'll see for something like this is in electronics which are incredibly difficult to repair or replace - think about satellites or interplanetary travel where it's physically impossible to swap out something." '

For those who don't give a damn, are too wise, or don't care as to what the title means (same person)
The ST fictional Romulan Star-Empire was founded by means of Pilotless self-healing  STEALTH-DRONE spacecraft, which talley-ho'ed about the place wacking the heck out of created enemies.