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SOCIAL STUDIES — History Have You Ever Wondered...
Messages in bottles may not be the fastest form of communication, but they have been around for a very long time. One of the first known messages in a bottle was released by Greek philosopher Theophrastus in 310 B.C. It is thought that Theophrastus was conducting an experiment using water currents to prove that the Mediterranean Sea was formed by the Atlantic Ocean. Messages in bottles have been used in more recent times, too. In 2005, a group of
migrants shipwrecked off the coast of Costa Rica sent a cry for help by enclosing a message in a bottle. They managed to tie the bottle to a long line on a fishing boat as it passed. The bottle was received, and the people were rescued. So why do people send messages in bottles? Glass may be very fragile, but bottles do well at sea. They are buoyant, which means they don't sink. They can bob on the surface of the ocean for years and years. Also, even if immersed in water, glass does not tend to biodegrade or weather like other materials might. In order to give you an idea of how well glass bottles can survive at sea, let's talk about the Titanic. Wine and champagne bottles have been recovered from the wreckage of the ship, which sunk in 1912. Although the Titanic sunk nearly a century ago, not only did the bottles survive, but rumor has it some of the bottles still have bits of wine and champagne inside. So, if you find yourself stranded on an island, is a message in a bottle the way to go? There is no way to predict where a message in a bottle will end up or how long it will take to get there. A bottle's course relies on the ocean currents. It can't hurt to launch your message in a bottle and hope for the best, but in the end, you may be in for a very long wait. Wonder What's Next?Come on back to Wonderopolis in the morning as we clear the air with a wonder that may leave you saying “excuse me!” Try It OutNine days ago, you set out to sea with a friendly group of Wonderopolis pirates in search of missing wonders. Unfortunately, your captain forgot to check the weather report, and a sudden storm left your crew stranded on a deserted island. The good news? Everyone survived the storm. The bad news? Nobody knows where you are! Unfortunately, there is no cell phone signal, so you can't call for help. It looks like you're going to be here a while. Luckily, you do happen to have paper, a pen and an empty bottle. The only way you can communicate with the outside world is to send a message in a bottle and hope that someone back in Wonderopolis will discover it and send a rescue party to find you. The more information you provide in your letter, the more likely the chance of rescue. As you write your letter, consider what things a rescue team might need to know. Where were you when the storm hit? What direction were you traveling? What was your destination? How many people are with you on the island? Who are they? What is the weather like on the island? Have you seen any plants or animals? What are you eating? How are you entertaining yourself on the island? You will also want to include a map of your island in the bottle. Grab your art supplies and get to work! Be sure to include any special features or landmarks, such as mountains, lakes or peninsulas that might help rescuers know they have found the right spot. When you're finished, ask your parents to help you email it to or send a copy of your letter and map to Wonderopolis: Wonderopolis HQ 325 West Main Street, Suite 300 Louisville, KY 40202-4237 We'd love to know where you're stranded so we can send out a rescue team. Related Wonders for You to Explore
Spread the Joy of WonderGET YOUR WONDER DAILYSubscribe to Wonderopolis and receive the Wonder of the Day® via email or SMS Join the BuzzDon’t miss our special deals, gifts and promotions. Be the first to know! What are the chances of finding a message in a bottle?By Buffington's estimate, just one in 300,000 washed-up bottles contains a message. But more than luck led to his findings. The Turks and Caicos islands are a "flotsam magnet," says Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer who studies the movement patterns of ocean debris.
Has anyone ever found a message in a bottle?NBC Universal, Inc. A couple in Ireland recently found a message in a bottle three years after a Maryland boy tossed it into the Atlantic Ocean. News4's Aimee Cho spoke to the boy and the couple. A couple in Ireland recently found a message in a bottle three years after a Maryland boy tossed it into the Atlantic Ocean.
How do you send a message in a bottle in the mail?Cut a strip of scrapbook paper that fits the bottle where the label should be. Glue in place and let dry. Fill your bottle with letters, hole punch confetti if you'd like to, add whatever else you think is cool, and decorate the bottle with stickers.
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