Searches for 'rosetta selfie' soared after the ESA released this shot
Launched in 2004, the Rosetta spacecraft successfully reached Comet 67P and landed the Philae module. From the comet's surface, the lander took this breathtaking photo of the orbiter that had carried it across the Universe.
A remarkable year
Solar systems and ecosystems
Search interest for the Rosetta probe rocketed 29x higher as it reached its destination, topping a momentous year for science. As mankind's exploration of space continued (accompanied by tweets and selfies), we pushed on with exploring our own planet, discovering new species and developing genetic miracles of our own.
In space, everyone can hear you tweet
The Rosetta spacecraft and its Philae lander became the galactic social accounts of choice in this year’s science-related searches.
A "Goldilocks planet" orbits the habitable zone around a star: it is neither too close nor too far to rule out water on its surface, a key indicator of life as we know it. The term peaked in 2014.
The discovery of an Earth-like planet, Kepler 186-f, sent the internet into orbit as searches for 'goldilocks zone exoplanet' rose 5x. 490 light years from Earth, Kepler may or may not be habitable.
The theory of everything
The discovery of "primordial gravitational waves" could unite general relativity and quantum mechanics to reveal a whole new era of super science. The phrase spiked 21x.
But wait, there's more to explore on Earth
Closer to home, new discoveries were made, like this tiny elephant shrew, prompting off-the-chart searches for 'new species 2014.'
Packing for Mars?
Dutch organization Mars One grabbed our attention as it announced plans for a residential community on Mars. Searches for 'mars one indiegogo' soared 5x during a crowdfunding campaign for the mission.
'Japanese stem cell' jumped 10x after Masayo Takahashi's team worked to restore the sight of a 70-year-old woman.
'paralysis breakthrough'
Following an attack in 2010, Darek Fidyka’s spinal cord was severed. In October he regained feeling and movement in his lower limbs after pioneering surgery. Searches for the breakthrough soared 11x.