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Very interesting visual demonstration. I asked AI about it and here's a summary that I did not confirm of why it is not able to be absorbed.

Surface tension: Mercury has a high surface tension, which prevents it from penetrating the paper towel’s fibers. Unlike water, which can wet and absorb into the paper towel, mercury’s surface tension causes it to bead up and remain on the surface.

Lack of capillary action: Mercury is a non-polar liquid, lacking the polar properties that enable capillary action in water and other liquids. Capillary action allows liquids to flow through narrow spaces, such as paper towel fibers, but mercury’s non-polar nature prevents this interaction.

Metallic cohesion: Mercury’s metallic properties lead to strong cohesion between its molecules, making it difficult for the paper towel fibers to disrupt and absorb the liquid. This cohesion also contributes to its high surface tension.

Density: Mercury is approximately 13.5 times denser than water, which affects its behavior when interacting with the paper towel. The paper towel’s fibers are not capable of withstanding the pressure and density of mercury, preventing it from being absorbed.
These factors combined explain why mercury cannot be absorbed by a paper towel. Instead, it remains on the surface, forming beads or droplets.