Don't replace broken parts anymore, because one day your smartphone might just repair itself.

Researchers say they have discovered self-healing nanocrystals that could be used in semiconductors. The nanocrystals are intended for solar panels, but could have a wide range of applications in electronics. It is part of a growing effort to find materials that repair themselves to reduce waste.

"Users can now manually repair cracks in previously inaccessible circuits," tech expert Jonathan Tian told Lifewire in an email interview. "Normally, when such cracks occur, the entire chip (or even the entire device) can be discarded. In addition, by extending the life of electrical systems, self-healing technology will reduce the amount of electronic waste entering the environment."

Although self-healing materials may seem like science fiction from movies like The Terminator or Spiderman, they are becoming a reality. Scientists from the Israel Institute of Technology have recently developed environmentally friendly nanocrystal semiconductors that can heal themselves.