From droplets on lotus leaves 1 to thin layers on laboratory substrates, water is ubiquitous in everyday experience, and water-surface interactions are highly varied. For example, interfacial water is known to mediate interactions involving biological macromolecules, while microscopic water droplets have been linked to the phenomena of surface flashover 7 and contact charging. Understanding water-surface interactions may crucially advance sustainability efforts, as these can govern figures-of-merit associated with catalytic efficiency of hydrogen evolution or water harvesting and purification by membranes. Furthermore, tailoring surfaces with chemistry and geometric factors to modulate water interactions may yield novel coatings for anti-fogging technology, advanced textiles, and underwater electronics. Overall, understanding interactions and properties of interfacial water is of significant interest, both in terms of fundamental physics as well as technological importance.