Results 1 - 10 of about 4,120,000,000 for *.*. (0.05 seconds) [results vary depending on the current google server being queried]

I just stumbled across something astonishing. A query so simple, yet so elegant…

Just a few minutes ago, I discovered that if I type:
*-*
or
*.* – [Thanks ToastyX!]
in the query box at google, I can search the entire internet.
But seriously — the results are crazy. See for yourself! : http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%2B*-*&btnG=Search
Seems it works on froogle, too.

Everything is highlighted. All of your terms have been matched!

[See also: http://www.google.com/search?q=%2B*-*&hl=en&lr=&start=4120000000&sa=N (notice the number overflow - 1073741824]
Now for my next questions: what determines the order? Where are these results being pulled from? Why this order?