Several things, however, are clear: the trolls and spam were largely nuked in the time it took to throw the switch.

ENGADGET: Editorial: Facebook, single identities, and the right to be anonymous

The move is part of a massive "spring cleaning" that Google began in 2011 and which has nuked about 70 of its wide array of products.

CNN: Google Reader shutting down on July 1

Nowadays stockbrokers are getting nuked by E-trade and Datek.

FORBES: Digital rules

Among the ideas put forward to prevent an asteroid impact, some have suggested that it could be rammed by a missile or spacecraft, or even nuked, if deflection were not an option!

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

The Google Talk widget is getting nuked from a distance in favour of the Meebo bar, and Google Video (which no longer accepts uploads) is to be unplugged by August 20, with all remaining hosted content moving or already moved to YouTube.

FORBES: Google Closes Down More Products: That's The Genius Of Google