25 Fascinating Google Facts
Ready to dive into the world of Google? With these 25 fun and interesting Google facts, we reveal just how much there is to know about the tech giants.
Will
12 min read - 01 October 24
Google is far more than just a search engine – it’s a technological marvel with a history full of surprises and intriguing developments.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the lesser-known aspects of Google’s operations, innovations, and trivia that even the most tech-savvy among us might find astonishing.
Dive into a world of fascinating details and discover fun facts about Google, highlighting how the Silicon Valley giant is one of most influential companies of our time.
The Origins of Google: From Garage Startup to Tech Giant
Picture this… It’s 1996.
Two nerdy PhD students at Stanford, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, meet and instantly argue about everything.
It’s a classic tale of “I can’t stand you, but let’s change the world together”.
Larry and Sergey had one big problem: there were too many web pages in the world – and no good way for users of the internet to find them.
So, they did what any overachieving student would do – they turned their dorm room into a data centre.
Seriously, servers and cables everywhere. It was a fire hazard that luckily, somehow never caught fire.
Random google fact: They named their creation ‘Backrub’ because it analysed the web’s backlinks to understand its structure. Yes, Backrub.
Imagine saying, “Just Backrub it” today.
Thankfully, they had the sense to rename it Google, from the mathematical term “googol,” which means 1 followed by 100 zeros.
Why? Because their search engine could handle an absurdly large amount of data. Also, “googol.com” was probably taken.
So there they were, two guys with a brilliant idea, no money, and a server stashed in a lego case (true story).
They convinced a sunburned angel investor, Andy Bechtolsheim, to give them a $100,000 check.
Another fun fact: they didn’t even have a bank account for Google yet, so they had to scramble to set one up.
From there, Google exploded faster than you can say ‘search engine optimisation’.
Today, it’s hard to imagine a world without Google, but remember, it all started with two guys, a dorm room fire hazard, and a really bad original name.
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25 Random Google Facts
Ready to dive into the weird and wonderful world of Google?
Google’s story is anything but ordinary. And did we mention facts about Google such as the stick figure Doodle? Or the server made of LEGO bricks?
Here are some interesting facts about Google that will make you see the search engine in a whole new light:
1. Google was started by two college students called Larry Page and Sergey Brin
They met in 1995 at Stanford University, where their initial meeting was more of a clash of ideas than an instant friendship. Despite their differences, they quickly bonded over a shared vision: to make the vast amount of information on the internet easily accessible and useful for everyone.
2. Larry and Sergey initially named their search engine ‘Backrub’ due to its ability to analyse backlinks
The pair then had a change of heart, landing on the word ‘Google’.
3. The word Google comes from the term ‘googol’, which is the number one followed by a hundred zeros
The creators chose it to reflect the huge amount of data the search engine could process within one single search. Think of all those pages, places and image files!
4. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Google is the world’s most visited website
It’s even one of the most-searched terms on Bing!
5. The first ever Google server was ‘safely’ stored in a custom case made of Lego
6. Google’s headquarters is known as the ‘Googleplex’ and is based in California’s Silicon Valley
7. At the Googleplex, there is a giant statue of a T-Rex dinosaur, which is often covered in flamingos
Rumour has it… that this is a reminder to Google employees not to allow the company to go extinct. Could this now be more relevant since the introduction of AI?
8. Here’s a random google fact for you: The Googleplex is absolutely huge
Due to the sheer size of Google’s headquarters – and the fact there’s lots of greenery on site, the company hires goats, rather than lawnmowers, to keep their grass trimmed. Yes, goats!
9. The first ever ‘Google Doodle’ (when Google’s homepage changes to mark an important event) was created in celebration of the 1998 Burning Man Festival
The founders wanted people to know why they were out of the office for the weekend.
10. Google was the first big tech company to offer free meals to people who work there, and also allows employees to bring their dogs to work too
11. Due to its amount of use around the world, the verb ‘Google’ was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2006
It defines it as “to use the Google search engine to obtain information on the World Wide Web”.
12. Google’s language capabilities extend beyond the real world
The search engine can handle more than 150 languages, including constructive languages like Esperanto and fictional languages such as Elvish from The Lord of the Rings.
13. The Google homepage is available in over 80 languages, including some fun options like Pirate and Bork Bork Bork
14. YouTube became part of the Google family in 2006, after it was bought for more than $1.5 billion
At present, YouTube has nearly 2 billion monthly users, with more than 400 hours of video uploaded every minute. As of 2024, YouTube is believed to be worth more than 30 times this figure!
15. Google first announced its email service, known as G-Mail, on April Fool’s Day in 2004
As a result many people thought it was actually a joke (ha!).
16. 15% of the searches made every day on Google have never been searched before
An intriguing statistic for any search marketers out there! Proof there is always room to improve your SEO keyword cluster strategy so you can closely match user search intent.
17. Google uses AI to reduce the energy used to cool their data centres by 40%
18. In April 2018, Google became the first company to achieve 100% renewable energy
This means that it is able to purchase a kilowatt of renewable energy for every kilowatt the company uses.
19. Just one Google search uses around the same amount of computer power it took to send the Apollo 11 astronauts to the Moon
20. Google has a lot of fun, little tricks
For example, if you search ‘askew’, all of the results turn crooked.
21. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, donates approximately $100,000,000 in grants and investments as as well as $1 billion in products annually
22. With Google Earth, a virtual globe and mapping tool, users can embark on a captivating journey across the Earth’s surface
From iconic landmarks to remote corners of the globe, Google Earth allows users to explore and zoom in on locations with remarkable detail. They can dive into the depths of the Great Barrier Reef and visit historical landmarks like the Pyramids of Giza, and even the interiors of famous buildings like the White House from the comfort of their screen.
23. Google actually has at least six birthdays, but it chooses to celebrate it on the 27th September
24. Google has some fun and quirky algorithms that go beyond just helping you find information
Here are a few: PageRank, Panda, Penguin, Hummingbird, RankBrain, Pigeon and BERT.
25. Nowadays, Google is far more than just a search engine
Future developments are set to include artificial intelligence, a new streaming-based gaming platform, and even driverless cars. Unsurprisingly, Google now has over 250 products.
A Summary of Google facts
After exploring these fun Google facts, you might start to wonder if the folks at Google have a hidden stash of giggle-inducing secrets along with their algorithms! Or will they introduce a new crazy ads tactic even more advanced than Performance Max campaigns?
From the playful origins of their name to the quirky Easter eggs they’ve sprinkled across the internet, it’s clear that Google is as good at having fun as they are at organising the world’s information.
So next time you’re Googling funny dog videos, remember – you’re using a search engine that was literally born out of a garage and countless caffeine-fuelled all-nighters!
Check out more in our blog if you want to learn more about the world of search, including SEO, Google ads & conversion rate optimisation.
