The Year 2012 in Google

Further proof that Google knows pretty much everything (as if you need it), is its 'most searched for' lists of the year.

Top of searches worldwide in 2012 is the late singer Whitney Houston. In second is the ubiquitous Gangnam Style, which, rather worryingly, is ahead of Hurricane Sandy.

The full list:

1. Whitney Houston
2. Gangnam Style
3. Hurricane Sandy
4. iPad 3
5. Diablo 3
6. Kate Middleton
7. Olympics 2012
8. Amanda Todd
9. Michael Clarke Duncan
10. BBB12

Predictably, an Apple product is ranked highly with iPad3 in fourth position, followed by the game Diablo 3. Next up is Kate Middleton and the Olympics, which will surprise no one.

The sad story of teenager Amanda Todd, who committed suicide, is on the list at no.8 and the brilliant Green Mile actor Michael Clarke Duncan, who passed away after a heart attack, also features.

In at the bottom is Portuguese Big Brother, which makes its way into the top 10 owing to the rape controversy in this year's house.

Google also provided its top trends for images, with boy band One Direction nabbing the no.1 spot. Selena Gomez, iPhone 5, Megan Fox and Rihanna are also in the most popular photo searches list.

For films, The Hunger Games was the winner, followed by Skyfall, Prometheus, The Avengers and Magic Mike, although we're a little surprised The Dark Knight Rises doesn't even feature in the top ten.

Head to Google.com/zeitgeist/2012 for more.

(Image: Rex Features)