Google is using their font API and CSS's @font-face
See the following reference in their code:
Below is the exact definition that "registers" said font:
@font-face {
font-family: 'Open Sans';
font-style: normal;
font-weight: 400;
src: local('Open Sans'), local('OpenSans'), url('http://themes.googleusercontent.com/static/fonts/opensans/v5/cJZKeOuBrn4kERxqtaUH3T8E0i7KZn-EPnyo3HZu7kw.woff') format('woff');
}
Then they simply apply that font to element/s:
h1, h2, h3, h4, blockquote, q, .maia-nav ul {
font-family: 'open sans',arial,sans-serif;
}
Note: @font-face
fonts don't render crisply on downlevel browsers. If you need to support them try - http://cufon.shoqolate.com/