Newer balls come with a coating that inhibits water absorption, which isn't the case with older leather balls.

WSJ: Soccer 'Header' Impact Likened to Hard Punch

Nanoscale materials are being used to address current drug delivery shortcomings, including water solubility, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and toxicity.

FORBES: On the Ground Floor of Nanotechnology

The development of biofertilization techniques would also increase water use efficiency by promoting higher nutrient absorption and crop growth rates.

UNESCO: World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

Absorption is particularly fast in cold water so the Arctic is especially susceptible, and the recent decreases in summer sea ice have exposed more sea surface to atmospheric CO2.

BBC: Arctic Ocean 'acidifying rapidly'

But one effect of that absorption is that it turns the ocean water more acidic.

CNN: Ice shelf collapse: What does it mean?

The porous version exhibited high "selective absorption and adsorption" - preferentially picking up organic pollutants and dyes out of water.

BBC: 'White graphene' soaks up pollutants and can be re-used