Joplin is also very close to the Ozarks, whose rough surface clearly makes the state of Missouri an island in the annual tornado tsunami.

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But doubt remained: similar patterns could have been caused by a dry but rough surface, or by ices made of compounds other than water.

ECONOMIST: Divining water

Scientists are fascinated by the blister-like structures on Europa's rough surface.

CNN: Galileo moves on to Europa

In creating his "fungus accretion" vases, Simon brushed the rough surface of a ceramic vase with a clay-and-water solution until it built upon itself like a hand-dripped sand castle.

WSJ: The Wonder Twins of the Design World: Nikolai and Simon Haas | Designers

This rough surface also makes the material more opaque.

BBC: New material can halt runny liquids on demand