China on Thursday published a white paper on space activities, illustrating the development of China's space industry over the past five years and its plans for the near future.

China aims to enable its astronauts to engage in extravehicular operations in the coming five years, according to a white paper on China's space activities issued on Thursday in Beijing.

China has signed 16 international space cooperation agreements and memorandums with 13 countries, space agencies and international organizations over the past five years, said a white paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2006" and released by the Information Office of the State Council on Thursday.

China plans to develop nontoxic, pollution-free, high-performance, low-cost and powerful thrust carrier rockets of the new generation in the coming five years, according to a white paper released on Thursday.

China will give priority to the development of applied satellites and construct a comprehensive chain of space industry covering satellite manufacturing, launching services, ground equipment production and operational services in the coming five years.

To further consolidate the nation's position in the world space industry and boost its space programs, China is aiming to building "world-class large space corporations" to provide a market-based mechanism of development.

Goodbye Writely. Hello Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Watch out Microsoft.

NEC has announced it is ready to distribute a new controller chip that may bring a cease-fire in the battle between Sony's Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD-DVD. The new NEC chip is designed to play both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray content.

Microsoft Corp. released 10 security patches on Tuesday, addressing a record high of 26 flaws in its Windows OS and other products.

A huge creature with a small brain, the Triceratops apparently had a difficult time making up its mind which way its horns should grow: upward, backward or forward.