Google has become a household name and a ubiquitous presence in our digital lives. We rely on it for search queries, email, maps, and so much more. But how well do you really know the tech giant that has transformed the way we access information? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into 40 intriguing Google facts that will reveal the fascinating story behind one of the most influential companies in the world. From its humble beginnings in a garage to its cutting-edge innovations, get ready to click and discover some lesser-known facts about Google that will leave you in awe.
1-10 Fun Facts About Google
1. Google processes 3.5 billion searches per day, and 16% of those searches are completely new to the search engine.
2. Google was originally called “Backrub.”
3. In 1999, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin offered to sell the company to Excite for US$1 million, but Excite declined the offer.
4. As of 2021, Google processes over 5.8 billion searches per day.
5. The “I’m feeling lucky” button on Google’s search page allows users to directly go to the first result of their search without seeing the search results page. It is estimated that this feature costs Google around US$110 million per year in lost advertising revenue, as it bypasses all ads that would typically be displayed on the search results page.
6. Google’s advertising revenue in 2021 was over US$181 billion, making it one of the largest advertising companies in the world.
7. Google.org is the philanthropic arm of Google, focusing on issues such as climate change, education, and economic opportunity.
8. Google’s first computer storage was made from LEGO bricks, as the founders used the building blocks to create a low-cost storage solution.
9. The name “Google” came about accidentally when the founders misspelled the word “googol” – a number represented by 1 followed by 100 zeroes.
10. In 2013, Google founded Calico, a company focused on anti-aging research with the goal of ultimately “curing” death. Calico, short for California Life Company, is dedicated to studying the biology of aging and developing interventions to extend the human lifespan and improve health in old age.
11-20 Mind-Blowing Facts About Google
12. The iconic Versace dress worn by Jennifer Lopez to the 2000 Grammy Awards, which gained widespread attention and became a cultural phenomenon, was the inspiration behind the creation of Google Images. The surge in online searches for images of Jennifer Lopez in the Versace dress prompted Google to develop a dedicated image search feature, which eventually became Google Images.
13. When Gmail was introduced in 2004 with free storage of 1GB, it was a game-changer in the email industry. At the time, Hotmail only offered 2MB of free storage, making Gmail’s storage capacity seem almost unbelievable.
14. Google Maps Street View feature includes a 360-degree view of the Mount Everest base camp. The images were captured in 2011 by a team of hikers using special backpacks equipped with cameras.
15. Google Maps also allows users to explore underwater sea life, coral reefs and wrecks through its underwater street view feature. Google partnered with organizations such as The Catlin Seaview Survey and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to capture and share images of marine environments, providing a unique perspective on the world’s oceans.
16. In 2010, Nicaragua accidentally invaded Costa Rica due to a mistake in Google Maps. Nicaraguan troops mistakenly crossed the border into Costa Rica and set up a military camp based on incorrect information provided by Google Maps, which showed the disputed area as part of Nicaragua.
17. In order to cover common mistypes of its name, Google owns many different domain names that redirect to its search engine, including Gooogle.com, Gogle.com, and Googel.com.
18. One gram of DNA could theoretically store all of Facebook and Google’s data combined.
19. Google acquired YouTube, the popular video-sharing platform, for US$1.65 billion in stocks just 18 months after its creation.
20. Susan Wojcicki, who rented her garage in Menlo Park, California to Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998 when they were creating Google, later became the CEO of YouTube. Wojcicki joined Google as its first marketing manager and played a crucial role in the company’s early days. In 2014, she was appointed as the CEO of YouTube.
21-30 Insane Facts About Google
21. YouTube’s immense popularity makes it the second-largest search engine globally, outpacing the combined usage of Bing, Yahoo!, and Ask.
22. Google’s cutting-edge development includes a self-programming computer, showcasing its commitment to pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence.
23. Google.com is ranked #1 as the most popular website in the world for March 2023.
24. Google favors dogs over cats. They specifically state that they are a dog company in their official code of conduct.
25. Google has a version of its website available in Klingon – a language from the Star Trek franchise.
26. Google’s growth has been remarkable, acquiring an average of two companies per month since 2010, highlighting its aggressive expansion strategy.
27. However! Google’s acquisition history has its ups and downs, with the purchase of Motorola for $12.5 billion in 2012, followed by its sale to Lenovo for just $2.9 billion two years later.
28. Interestingly, the domain “GoogleSucks.com” is also owned by Google, showcasing its lighthearted approach to feedback and criticism.
29. The immense computing power behind a single Google search is mind-boggling, surpassing the technological requirements of the Apollo 11 Moon mission.
30. Google adds a playful touch to their search results, allowing users to play the classic game “Atari Breakout” directly in Google Images, showcasing their creativity and interactivity.
31-40 Interesting Facts About Google
31. Google’s search engine processes a staggering 2 trillion searches annually, averaging out to around 270 searches per person on Earth, showcasing the company’s massive scale and influence.
32. The use of periods in Gmail addresses is irrelevant, as emails sent to [email protected] and [email protected] will both reach the same inbox.
33. Google’s internet services are built on a massive codebase of 2 billion lines of code, which is 5000 times larger than the original Space Shuttle.
34. The total size of the database used by Google Earth exceeds a massive 20 petabytes.
35. Google takes copyright seriously, delisting a staggering 1.75 billion websites due to copyright takedown requests.
36. Donald Trump was the most Googled person in 88 countries in 2016, including diverse regions such as Mexico, Spain, South Africa, and New Zealand.
37. Google receives an overwhelming number of job applications, with over two million applications from around the world each year, demonstrating its status as a sought-after employer.
38. When a Google employee passes away, the company pays their spouses half their salary for ten years and gives their kids $1,000 per month until they turn 19.
39. Google may be known for its online dominance, but Netflix has been around longer.
40. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos demonstrated his business acumen by investing $250,000 in Google in 1998, a move that would be worth over $2.2 billion today.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 40 Interesting Google Facts.
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