Search engine Google has released its annual review of the year, with a breakdown of the top trends in online queries. You can see the entire world’s data in a customisable timeline at its Zeitgeist page, where you can look at very specific information by choosing a town on a spinning globe and then moving the slider to the month of your choice.

Believe it or not, we are a scholarly nation concerned with education: matric results top the charts in January, university places are the most sought after in August.

In terms of the year as a whole, however, we were after information about Nelson Mandela more than any other subject. Not altogether surprising, and nor is the fact that Oscar Pistorius is the second most requested search term. Slightly more of a shock is that Paul Walker, star of the Fast and Furious films who died earlier this month, comes in at number three.

Despite being quiet of late, Mamphela Ramphele was the most searched for politician, with Joburg DA leader Mmusi Maimane coming in second. Zuma, astonishingly, didn’t even make the top ten, despite Nkandla and scandals all.

Shopping site OLX was the most searched for South African brand, followed by Standard Bank and ABSA. Apparently when it comes to ‘What is’ questions, what we really want to know is if we can master the ‘twerk’. Yes, the rhythmic jerking of bottoms came top of both the ‘What is…’ and ‘How to…’ lists. Thanks a lot, Miley.

And as for those of you who pushed’ What is Christmas’ to number four in that chart…. huh?

Personally, it’s the appearance of Doctor Who at number three in the TV series searches that is most heartwarming. Leaping ahead, as the Doctor does, of Isibaya and trailing super-popular Idols SA and Masterchef.

Tech-wise, it’s BBM for Android which had us on the edge of our seats with its number one place in our curiousity, followed by Naspers-owned IM client WeChat and the Samsung Galaxy S4.

The grand top ten lists of everything is here. It’s fascinating – go check it out.