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Google's top 10 searches of 2013 (pictures)

Google's most popular global searches of the year often are a window into what brings us joy or pain, or sparks our curiosity. The No. 1 search term this year turned out to be an international symbol of strength and peace.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
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1 of 10 Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images

No. 10: North Korea

They reveal the good and the bad, but the bottom line is that Google searches are a tiny window into our global consciousness. In 2013, Google's top global searches revealed our our joy, our pain, and our curiosity.

North Korean soldiers stand on Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean war armistice in Pyongyang on July 27, 2013.

"North Korea" was Google's No. 10 global trending search of 2013.
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2 of 10 CNET

No. 9: PlayStation 4

2013 was a big year for game consoles, and it shows in global Google searches. "PlayStation 4" was Google's No. 9 most searched term in 2013.

CNET Reviews says the PlayStation 4 "serves up dazzling graphics, runs on a simplified and logical interface, and boasts a fantastic controller. It's also $100 cheaper than rival Xbox One and has the upper hand on indie and day one digital-only offerings."
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3 of 10 James Martin/CNET

No. 8: Samsung Galaxy S4

CNET calls Samsung's Galaxy S4 "The everything phone for (almost) everyone," and in 2013 this phone made the biggest challenge yet to Apple's iPhone.
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4 of 10 LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

No. 7: Royal baby

Let it be known that in 2013 the world still loves a classic fairy tale. Here, Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, show their new son to the media outside St. Mary's Hospital in London on July 23. Prince George -- who weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces at birth -- is third in line to the throne.
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5 of 10 Jim Rogash/Getty Images

No. 6: Boston Marathon

Rita Jeptoo of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the women's division of the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15 in Boston. A short time later, bombs exploded near the finish line at the world's oldest and most prestigious marathon.
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6 of 10 CNET

No. 5: Harlem Shake

People uploaded more than 1.7 million videos of viral dance craze the Harlem Shake to YouTube this year, propelling it to the No. 5 spot on Google's global search list. It was also the second most trending video on YouTube.
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7 of 10 Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

No. 4: Cory Monteith

Actor Cory Monteith arrives at the premiere of "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie" on August 6, 2011, in Westwood, Calif. Monteith, who rose to fame on the hit Fox show "Glee," was found dead inside his hotel room in Vancouver in July. It was reported that he died from a mix of heroin and alcohol.
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8 of 10 CNET

No. 3: iPhone 5S

Apple's hotly anticipated iPhone 5S was launched in September, and its popularity made it the No. 3 most widely searched term in 2013.
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9 of 10 Facebook/Paul Walker

No. 2: Paul Walker

Paul Walker, star of the "Fast & Furious" movie series, died in a car crash north of Los Angeles on November 30.

The "Fast and Furious" franchise spawned six sequels, with "Fast & Furious 7" currently filming. It's unclear whether Walker had completed his work on the film.
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10 of 10 NelsonMandela.org

No. 1: Nelson Mandela

The No. 1 searched term for 2013 was Nelson Mandela, an international symbol of strength and peace.

Mandela died on December 5, and his death sparked both worldwide mourning and a celebration of his life's achievements. Global search interest in the former president of South Africa was already high this year, and after he died, people from around the world turned to Google to learn more about Madiba and his legacy.

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