If fabrics can be made more water-repellent in this way, then perhaps other materials can be, too.

ECONOMIST: Monitor

Hycrete's additive is based on a water-soluble molecule that transforms when mixed into concrete, becoming a water-repellent polymer.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas

Using a similar approach, the firm wants to cover the surface of a bottle with hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repellent) materials.

BBC: Namib Desert beetle inspires self-filling water bottle

Revolymer was born out of research from the University of Bristol, which apparently altered the stickiness of regular gum by changing its water-repellent qualities.

FORBES: Fresh Funding For Non-Stick Gum

With the addition of a reinforced, glass lens cover, the EX-G1 is tooled with a multi coating that is water-repellent and prevents light reflection from ruining pictures.

ENGADGET: Casio trots out world's slimmest shock-resistant digicam: EX-G1 (video)

On it's own, oil is not magnetic, but MIT researchers say that when mixed with water-repellent nanoparticles that contain iron, the oil can be magnetically separated from the water.

CNN: Cleaning up oil spills with magnets and nanotechnology

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

Cosgrove and his team worked on altering the stickiness of regular gum by changing its water-repellent qualities, encouraging water to form a layer around the substance so that it could be more easily removed from most surfaces.

FORBES: Will Non-Stick Gum Chew Up Wrigley's?

Bring packaged snacks, wet wipes, Ziploc bags, a change of clothes, disposable rain ponchos, sunscreen, bug repellent, water bottles, a small first-aid kit, small toys, coloring books and glow-in-the-dark sticks and necklaces (which the parks sell at dusk but they charge a fortune).

CNN: A theme park survival guide