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Google ranks Germans' dark online interests

Matt ZuvelaDecember 16, 2015

Topping the list of Germany's most-Googled phrases in 2015 was "Sonnenfinsternis," meaning solar eclipse. Germany's searches showed an interest in the movie "Minions" and a desire to know "what should I cook today?"

Sonnenfinsternis 2015 Großbritannien
Image: Reuters/T. Melville

Google released its "Year in Search" report on Wednesday detailing the phrases users around the world typed in most often to the search engine. While former NBA basketball Lamar Odom topped the global search queries (he's married to Khlore Kardashian and was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel in October), Germans shunned the tabloid headlines in favor of science: the most-Googled term in Germany was "Sonnenfinsternis," which means "solar eclipse."

Weather conditions were favorable in parts of Germany for a total eclipse on March 20, 2015.

Queries about the anti-immigrant PEGIDA ("Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West") movement were second on the most-Googled list in Germany, while "Flugzeugabsturtz" (plane crash) was number three. In March, a Germanwings flight bound for Düsseldorf from Barcelona crashed in the French Alps after deliberate actions taken by the copilot. All 150 people on board were killed.

In addition to the list of top overall searches, Google listed the top searches in certain categories. The most-searched German people were Helene Fischer (a pop singer), Michael Schumacher (a former Formula 1 champion whose holiday skiing accident left him with brain damage), and Daniela Katzenberger (a reality TV star). When it came to international celebrities, Germans searched most for Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Kim Kardashian. The most queried film was "Minions."

Another list ranked the most-asked questions from German Google users. These included "what should I cook today?", "what time is it" and "why is a banana curved?".

Have a look at the full list of Germany's most-Googled phrases.

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