BERLIN: A German scientist has come up with a solution for snoring - a computerised pillow that shifts the head's sleeping position until the noise stops. This comes even as another study says that smoking spurs snoring.

Daryoush Bazargani, professor of computer science at the University of Rostock and the pillow's inventor, was displaying a prototype of his pillow at a health conference in Germany on Wednesday. "The pillow is attached to a computer, which is the size of a book, rests on a bedside table, and analyses snoring noises," Bazargani said.

"The computer then reduces or enlarges air compartments within the pillow to facilitate nasal airflow to minimize snoring as the user shifts during sleep," he said.

The ergonomic pillow can also be used for neck massages. "I invented it because I snore," he said. "I tried all sorts of products, but nothing worked. I hope people who use it will sleep more peacefully," Bazargani said.

Your chances of getting a peaceful night's sleep are better if you don't smoke, or spend time around anyone who does, say researchers from University Hospital in Umea, Sweden.

That's because smoking - both active and passive - makes it more likely you'll snore the night away, according to a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.