Twitter started out as a microblogging site with the idea that people would update their status throughout the day to tell their friends and the world exactly what they were doing at that moment. But it's grown well beyond those roots and turned into something of a national pastime.
With it's popularity has come a variety of different uses for the service. Along with serving as a microblog, it is also a social messaging tool, a marketing tool, a replacement for RSS feeds and a way to keep track of the current buzz.
Searching Twitter serves as an excellent way to track trends and keep tabs on the latest buzz. Whether it's the latest version of the iPhone's operating system, news about the latest Windows service pack or just buzz on your favorite sports team, Twitter can keep you up-to-date with not just the news, but also what the world at large thinks.
