They performed this trick, as they explain in the journal Langmuir, using a substance called phenyl azido, which readily forms covalent bonds with its neighbours when exposed to ultraviolet light.

ECONOMIST: Monitor: Encouraging hydrophobia | The

Accordingly, Dr Lin and his colleagues tried to build up covalent bonds between the layers of a water-repellent, or hydrophobic, material called cellulose acetate butyrate, which is used to make water-resistant fabrics.

ECONOMIST: Monitor: Encouraging hydrophobia | The