Google has snapped up the rights to Orion, a mathematical formula that could change the way internet searches are carried out. 

The search company beat off strong competition from Microsoft and Yahoo, both of which were interested in acquiring the technology. 

The formula works by finding content related to a key word and then showing the results, including topics that are relevant to the search. 

It also displays a selection of the files it finds, so that users can see whether the result is what they are looking for before visiting a page.

The algorithm was written by Ori Allon, a 26 year-old doctoral student at the University of New South Wales, and is named after him. 

Allon and the University are not allowed to reveal how much Google paid or to discuss the software any further. A Google spokesperson told vnunet.com that the company has "purchased the assets of Orion," but declined any further comment.

Allon is now working full time at Google's headquarters in California.