Once it’s dried out, scientists working on the project from Johannes Kepler University in Austria found that it’s not only heat resistant, but will last for years, and can withstand being bent and folded thousands of times without wearing or tearing.The authors point out that the increase in the proliferation of electronics in modern times has not been paired with an increase in their lifespan, and throwing them away is much more economical for users than replacing individual parts.MORE MUSHROOM NEWS: Processors in Tech Wearables like Fitbits Could Be Replaced Using Mushroom Mycelium“Circular economy and recycling concepts alone cannot solve the growing waste crisis.Electronics research, and especially electronic materials research, thus must shift its focus from strictly high-functionality concepts to sustainable, cost-effective approaches.”The mycelium skin, which protects the mushroom from the ingress of bacteria, breaks down in a normal compost pile even after being dried, in just about 10 days.RELATED: Stanford Designer is Making Bricks Out of Fast-Growing Mushrooms That Are Stronger than ConcreteAt the moment, the team believe their mycelium could excel in products that don’t require a long-lasting electrical circuit such as wearable health monitors and near-field communication (NFC) tags for electronic devices."