I read a test where they subjected usb sticks to various daily hazards; washing machine, freezer, driven over by a car, and so on. They all survived the tests. Finally they nailed them to a tree, from one of them a professional data recovery company were still able to salvage some data. I think it is probably not too hard zapping them with static electricity though. They should probably have included tumble drying them with some cats in the test...