Sponges were made obtainable in survival in the Minecraft 1.8 Bountiful Update and can instantly dry up water around a certain radius. After sucking up water, it becomes a wet sponge, which can be dried in a furnace or instantly in the Nether (if a bucket is put in the fuel slot, then the water is picked up when dried).

Credits: I got the textures from the Pixel Papercraft Block Generator: https://generators.pixelpapercraft.com/generator/minecraft-block

More info on sponges: https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Sponge