Chinese scientists have fallen victim to on-line pranksters on the question and answer page of an official website.

Faced with a series of clearly ridiculous questions on the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) website, the scientists responded with a straight face and serious answers, the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Sunday.

"After years of private research, I have finally succeeded in producing nuclear reactors for household use. Where can I apply for patent?" began an inquiry posted by "Gan Liliang" on Jan. 22.

"By the way, I have been contacted several times by terrorists wanting to buy the reactors. What should I do?" it continued.

The ministry's reply was that the question was out of its field of knowledge, and suggested the writer refer to officials at the China Patent Information Center.

Other questions included inquiries about stock market predictions, psychological problems, and "whether a 'nuclear-powered cooker' can be used to make soy sauce pork", a popular dish.

After the questions were answered, the pranksters copied the questions and the answers to major on-line forums for public ridicule.

At least 200 prank questions had been raised, the newspaper reported, with 30 questions posted on Jan. 23. All of the prank questions and their answers have since been deleted from the MOST website.

"Although a lot of the questions had nothing to do with the work of the science ministry, we have answered them all as best we could. These joke questions have been most disruptive to our job, and we hope such behavior will end soon," said a statement posted on the website's homepage.

Praise from other Internet users has replaced the prank inquiries.

A writer named "Xlonelyeagle" said he could not understand the pranksters.

"People criticize the government when it ignores them, and then laugh at it when it takes everything seriously. It does not make sense," he said.

Previously, China's on-line pranksters have directed their ridicule at major public figures such as film-makers. In 2005, satirist "Hu Ge" made a popular short film spoofing director Chen Kaige's big-budget movie, The Promise. Director Zhang Yimou's blockbuster Curse of the Golden Flower has also been the butt of online parodies.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2008)