There’s an old law of software development that says every application expands to the point where it can read mail. A little-known corollary is that Google can always do more than you think.

For example, try searching for expressions like 213 ∗ 718, or 76 kilos in pounds, or even (G ∗ mass of Earth) / (radius of Earth^2). Amazing. Wait till Brad DeLong hears about it…

Update: Naturally, the google calculator also knows the answer to life, the universe and everything. (Hat tip: Geek Notes.)