By tracking search terms like "flu symptoms," Google can predict increased flu activity, and by approximating likely IP address locations, Goolge can track the spread of the flu across regions of the world. Impressive.

 This reminds me of a historian I once met who had traced the likely path of small pox infections by mapping Catholic death and burrial records in the American southwest. I'll never cease to be amazed at the creative ways people can use information when they can get it in large doses.

(Via JoHO)