A message in a bottle is a form of communication whereby a message is seale in a container (archetypically a glass bottle, but could be any medium) and released into the sea or ocean. Such messages are not intended for a specific person, but to end up wherever the currents carry them. Because of their simplicity they are often associated with people stranded on a deserted island, attempting to be rescued. However, many people release such messages for pleasure, to see how far their message can travel and to make new friends. They are also used for scientific studies into ocean currents. The phrase "message in a bottle" has also come to refer to any message sent without an intended destination.