It sounds like a contradiction in terms, but scientists created “dry water”.

The substance resembles powdered sugar and is expected to make a big commercial splash.

Each particle of dry water contains a water droplet surrounded by a sandy silica coating. In fact, 95 per cent of dry water is “wet” water.

One of its key properties is a powerful ability to absorb gases.

Scientists believe dry water could be used to combat global warming by soaking up and trapping the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Tests show that it is more than three times better at absorbing carbon dioxide as ordinary water.

Dry water may also prove useful for storing methane and expanding the energy source potential of the natural gas.

Ben Carter, from the University of Liverpool, presented his research on dry water at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.

He said: “There’s nothing else quite like it. Hopefully, we may see dry water making waves in the future.”

Another application demonstrated by Dr Carter’s team was using dry water as a catalyst to speed up reactions between hydrogen and maleic acid.