On Wednesday, they tackled a different object: the controversial new Jabulani ball at this year's World Cup.
The brouhaha over the Jabulani - both on the pitch and in the blogosphere - prompted scientists at the Nobel Prize-winning Caltech to test differences between the traditional ball and the upstart.
Caltech assistant professor of aeronautics Beverley McKeon said it was difficult to say which ball was better but she noted the Jabulani's smoothness could create less drag and therefore less predictable movement.
"It's very counterintuitive, but the rougher the ball, the more predictable its trajectory," McKeon told reporters, adding that a smoother ball with higher speeds would not follow as clear a path.
Spanish striker Fernando Torres complained about the ball after he fluffed several scoring opportunities in Monday's 2-0 win over Honduras in Group H.
"We need to practise a bit more with this Jabulani because we are having a bit of bother with it," Torres told reporters.
Amidst the controversy and tests like Caltech's, Adidas maintained the new ball "meets or exceeds all FIFA approved standards, and tests from the University of Loughborough scientifically prove its unprecedented stable flight and laser-like precision".
McKeon recommends players should just take more time to adapt to the ball's differences.
That did not stop her, however, from making her own call about why England goalkeeper Robert Green farcically fumbled in his team's opening 1-1 draw with the United States.
"Of course, I can blame it on the ball," she said.
