Most-Googled Terms of 2014 (Nasdaq: GOOG)

Here we have the ten most Googled terms of 2014 - with a twist...

Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG, GOOGL) - the world's largest search engine - handles about 87% of Web search queries across the globe. A look at hottest searches provides a fantastic measure of the year's most important happenings.

As a bonus to the regular list format, we've paired each term with a link to one of our favorite 2014 Web articles on that topic. Check them out for a quick refresher, a moving read, or exceptional visual content.

Out of the roughly 140 billion Google searches that took place in 2014 (and massive amount of Web content you can find on each), here are the ten most-Googled terms with our corresponding story "faves"...

most googled terms

Top Ten Most-Googled Terms of 2014

  1. Robin Williams: The widely popular actor and comedian passed away from apparent suicide by hanging on Aug. 11. Williams' death was met with an outpouring of grief, recollections, and touching tributes.
  2. Pulptastic: This 1 Minute Video Is The Best Robin Williams Tribute I've Seen

  1. World Cup: The 2014 FIFA World Cup was the soccer association's 20th tournament. A series of games, starting on June 12, took place at several venues dotted across Brazil. On July 13, Germany took the cup for the nation's fourth FIFA title in a stunning 1-0 overtime win over Argentina.
  2. The Atlantic: Brazil Prepares for the World Cup [in photographs]

  1. Ebola: "The most severe, acute health emergency seen in modern times," according to the World Health Organization (WHO), had worldwide health groups and facilities on high alert much of 2014. To date, the outbreak has killed 6,841 according to the WHO. The epidemic also sparked a trading frenzy in a number of stocks working on treatments, as well as protective-gear providers. Those key players were covered extensively here at Money Morning.
  2. TIME: Person of the Year: The Ebola Fighters

  1. Malaysia Airlines: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, mysteriously disappeared in the southern Indian Ocean on March 8. A number of global governments got involved in the rescue mission. The search continues.
  2. BBC: Missing Malaysia Plane MH370: What We Knowmost googled terms ice bucket

  1. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: The viral fundraising campaign for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastating neurological disease, started in the United States. Participators allowed a bucket of ice water to be dumped on their heads, then issued "challenges" for others to do the same. Some $115 million was raised, according to the ALS Association.
  2. The Verge: The Best Ice Bucket Challenge Videos

  1. Flappy Bird: The addictive mobile game, developed in Vietnam by Dong Nguyen, was released on May 24, 2013. Players control a flying bird, doing their best to avoid contact with objects on the screen. Within a few days, Flappy Bird became a global phenomenon. The game surpassed 50 million downloads by February 2014.
  2. Business Insider: That Goofy, Addictive Flappy Bird Game Is Doing $50,000 in Sales Per Day

  1. Conchita Wurst: Also known as Thomas Neuwirt, Conchita Wurst is an Austrian recording artist and drag queen. Wurst garnered international attention after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Rise Like a Phoenix."
  2. Rolling Stone: Bearded Drag Queen Conchita Wurst Wins Eurovision Song Contest

  1. ISIS: The Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS) aims to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria. Known for killing dozens of people at a time and carrying out public executions, crucifications and other violent acts, ISIS took over large swaths of northern and western Iraq in 2014.
  2. Vanity Fair: Scenes from Daily Life in the de Facto Capital of ISIS

  1. Frozen: The Oscar-winning 3D computer animated musical fantasy-comedy film from Walt Disney Pictures landed $1.219 billion box office sales to become the top-grossing animated picture ever. "Frozen" is Disney's second-highest grossing film behind Marvel's "The Avengers" (the third top-grossing movie ever). Find out which favorite tech retailer is poised to benefit from "Frozen" merchandise sales this holiday season here..
  2. The New Yorker: How "Frozen" Took Over the World

  3. Sochi Olympics: Officially known as the XXII Olympic Winter Games, the games were held from Feb. 7 through the 23. Some 2,873 athletes from 88 countries participated in a total 98 events in 7 sports. Russia led in medal count with 33, followed by the U.S. with 28, and Norway with 26. But all eyes were on Sochi as western tensions with Russia boiled over throughout much of 2014.
  4. Slate: An Uncensored Look at the Real Sochi

Investors: The New Year is just around the corner. Join Money Morning Defense & Tech Specialist Michael A. Robinson for a look at three tech stocks you should avoid in 2015...