Virginia Tech Researchers Build Soft, Stretchable, Self-Healing, Recyclable Electronic Circuits These novel circuits can be deformed any way you like, have a hole punched through them, and keep on ticking. a few seconds ago ⢠Sustainability / Wearables A team of researchers from Virginia Tech claim to have developed a new form of soft electronics that can stretch, survive "numerous damage events," and heal themselves automatically â and are even recyclable at the end of their lives. Described in the paper covering the team's research as a "self-healing liquid metal composite," the new material aims to improve a number of aspects of current soft electronics â including their ability to operate while damaged and how recyclable they are once the device for which they are built is no longer needed.