If you're a frequent user of the man-made wonder that is Google Earth, you may have noticed some pretty cool new features have popped up with the latest update.
More than just a way to search for weird and wonderful captures of daily life, like naked people and criminal acts, Google Earth now has 3D images, smartly curated video content, "Knowledge Cards" with information about local landmarks and the very cool "Voyage" tab, which lets you take virtual tours of World Heritage sites, cultural hotspots, lost civilisations and places of interest you never knew you'd be interested in (the botanical gardens of Bogar, anyone?), from the urban to the outback. It also has the "I'm feeling lucky" button now, so you can let Google transport you somewhere strange...
On top of that, Google Earth has also teamed up with BBC Earth and Sir David Attenborough on a series of short videos and virtual tours explaining the life around us while you explore. There's also video tours with lauded primatologist Dr Jane Goodall and marine biologist Dr Sylvia Earle as well as several other guides, including Sesame St characters and national park rangers.
Be warned: being the perfect deskside escapism/procrastination tool, Google Earth will suck up hours of your time and may cause major wanderlust, but at least you're learning, right?
