Wolfram Alpha [1] is another tool from them that's simply phenomenal for a multitude of purposes, including research. It's what I'd really like to see in a search eventually. It tries to actually directly deliver answers instead of correlating searches to a prioritized list of websites which is slowly degenerating search into 'search trendy websites by keyword.' For instance search google for "price of google stock in 2009", and then do the same search on Wolfram Alpha.
As that project evolves, it could eventually be the sort of searchable knowledge database that would render current search obsolete. Google itself could be a literal query of 'list high traffic SEO'd sites that mention [search term]'. Who actually wants that result other than the sites in question, ...and the companies that profit from their advertising, is beyond me.