When a ship or airplane calls for help, they may put out an "SOS." Many people mistakenly believe that "SOS" stands for "Save Our Ship." However, in reality, the letters do not "stand" for any specific words. They are just three easy-to-remember letters that can be quickly broadcast over the radio or with light signals, using Morse code.

Morse code was invented by Samuel Morse in the 1800s. He designed a series of dots and dashes that could be used to code messages that could be sent using the flow of electric currents. He gave the numbers 0-9 and each letter of the alphabet its own code. For instance, "S" is "· · ·," and "O" is " — — —." Therefore, an "SOS” is "· · · — — — · · ·." Each dot is transmitted as a short "beep" or flash of light. Each dash is a longer beep or flash of light, three times as long as a dot. Pauses indicate breaks between letters.

While Samuel Morse invented the code itself, he did not invent the "SOS." In fact, he created the distress signal that was used in England for many years, "CQD." Other countries used different distress signals. There was a need for a universal distress signal that all countries could recognize. The Germans were the first to use "SOS" as a distress signal, and in 1908, it was officially adopted as an internationally recognized distress signal. The simple, continuous rhythm of the SOS, which is transmitted without breaks between the letters, is easily recognizable. That is also why it is called an "SOS." The same series of dots and dashes could be IWB or V7 or another grouping of Morse characters. However, "SOS" is catchy and easier for people to remember when in distress.