The scientists developed a new method to predict how soil holds water, which is crucial for understanding how water moves through soil. They used this method to accurately predict the water retention of different types of soil. The results showed that the prediction accuracy depended more on the density of the soil than on its organic matter or texture. The method was successful in predicting the water retention of soil samples, with a small margin of error. This new approach can help us better understand how water behaves in different types of soil, which is important for agriculture and environmental studies.