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'Google Man' Never Forgets

Cal-Irvine researchers examining his remarkable recall

By Laurel Jorgensen, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 16, 2008 10:00 AM CST

(Newser) – Give Brad Williams a date—say, Jan. 1, 1962. He’ll tell you on that Monday his mother worked on the calendar while he watched To Tell The Truth. Sound amazing? Williams’ very rare detailed memory is called hyperthymesia, and University of California at Irvine scientists are studying his brain scans to figure out how he recalls distant events, ABC News reports.

“I was sort of a human Google for my family. I’ve always been able to recall things,” Williams says. Williams’ brother, Eric Williams, is working on a documentary about him called Unforgettable. In the movie, Williams competes with someone using Google to answer 20 questions. Williams finishes 11 minutes faster, getting 18 of the answers correct.

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[Videos (3)]

Brad Williams can be seen in this YouTube still from the documentary "Unforgettable". (PublicAccessOfEvil (YouTube))

The uncanny memory of Brad Williams has earned him nicknames like "The Google Man." (Shutterstock.com)

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"Unforgettable" - Trailer (PublicAccessOfEvil (YouTube))

"Unforgettable" - Brad vs. the Internet (PublicAccessOfEvil (YouTube))

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'Google Man' Never Forgets