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Welcome to Research Focus, a series of blog posts that highlights notable publications, events, code/datasets, new hires and other milestones from across the research community at Microsoft.

NEW RESEARCH NeoMem: Hardware/Software Co-Design for CXL-Native Memory Tiering

The Compute Express Link (CXL) open standard interconnect enables integration of diverse types of memory into servers via its byte-addressable SerDes links. To fully utilize CXL-based heterogeneous memory systems (which combine different types of memory with varying access speeds), it’s necessary to implement efficient memory tiering—a strategy to manage data placement across memory tiers for optimal performance. Efficiently managing these memory systems is crucial, but has been challenging due to the lack of precise and efficient tools for understanding how memory is accessed.

In a recent paper: NeoMem: Hardware/Software Co-Design for CXL-Native Memory Tiering researchers from Microsoft propose a novel solution which features a hardware/software co-design to address this problem. NeoMem offloads memory profiling functions to CXL device-side controllers, integrating a dedicated hardware unit called NeoProf, which monitors memory accesses and provides the operating system (OS) with crucial page hotness statistics and other system state information. On the OS kernel side, the researchers designed a revamped memory-tiering strategy, enabling accurate and timely hot page promotion based on NeoProf statistics. Implemented on a real FPGA-based CXL memory platform and Linux kernel v6.3, NeoMem demonstrated 32% to 67% geomean speedup over several existing memory tiering solutions.

Read the paper NEW RESEARCH Chimera: Accurate retrosynthesis prediction by ensembling models with diverse inductive biases

Planning and conducting chemical syntheses is a significant challenge in the discovery of functional small molecules, which limits the potential of generative AI for molecular inverse design. Although early machine learning-based retrosynthesis models have shown the ability to predict reasonable routes, they are less accurate for infrequent, yet important reactions.

In a recent paper: Chimera: Accurate retrosynthesis prediction by ensembling models with diverse inductive biases, researchers from Microsoft and external colleagues address this limitation, with a new framework for building highly accurate reaction models. Chimera incorporates two newly developed models, each achieving state-of-the-art performance in their respective categories. Evaluations by PhD-level organic chemists show that Chimera’s predictions are preferred for their higher quality compared to baseline models.

The researchers further validate Chimera’s robustness by applying its largest-scale model to an internal dataset from a major pharmaceutical company, demonstrating its ability to generalize effectively under distribution shifts. This new framework shows the potential to substantially accelerate the development of even more accurate and versatile reaction prediction models.

Read the paper

Spotlight: Blog post

Research Focus: Week of September 9, 2024

Investigating vulnerabilities in LLMs; A novel total-duration-aware (TDA) duration model for text-to-speech (TTS); Generative expert metric system through iterative prompt priming; Integrity protection in 5G fronthaul networks.

Read more Opens in a new tab NEW RESEARCH The GA4GH Task Execution API: Enabling Easy Multicloud Task Execution

In bioinformatics and computational biology, data analysis often involves chaining command-line programs developed by specialized teams at different institutions. These tools, which vary widely in age, software stacks, and dependencies, lack a common programming interface, which makes integration, workflow management and reproducibility challenging.

A recent article (opens in new tab) emphasizes the development, adoption and implementation of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) Task Execution Service (TES) API, created in collaboration with researchers at Microsoft and other institutions. The TES API offers a unified schema and interface for submitting and managing tasks, seamlessly bridging gaps between on-premises high-performance and high-throughput computing systems, cloud platforms, and hybrid infrastructures. Its flexibility and extensibility have already made it a critical asset for applications ranging from federated data analysis to load balancing across multi-cloud systems.

Adopted by numerous service providers and integrated into several workflow engines, TES empowers researchers to execute complex computational tasks through a single, abstracted interface. This eliminates compatibility hurdles, accelerates research timelines, reduces costs and enables “compute to data” solutions—essential for tackling the challenges of distributed data analysis.

Read the paper NEW RESEARCH RedCode: Risky Code Execution and Generation Benchmark for Code Agents

Increasing use of code agents for AI-assisted coding and software development has brought safety and security concerns, such as generating or executing malicious code, which have become significant barriers to real-world deployment of these agents.

In a recent paper: RedCode: Risky Code Execution and Generation Benchmark for Code Agents, published at NeurIPS 2024, researchers from Microsoft and external colleagues propose comprehensive and practical evaluations on the safety of code agents. RedCode is an evaluation platform with benchmarks grounded in four key principles: real interaction with systems, holistic evaluation of unsafe code generation and execution, diverse input formats, and high-quality safety scenarios and tests.

This research evaluated three agents based on various large language models (LLMs), providing insights into code agents’ vulnerabilities. For instance, results showed that agents are more likely to reject executing unsafe operations on the operating system. Unsafe operations described in natural text lead to a lower rejection rate than those in code format. Additional evaluations revealed that more capable base models and agents with stronger overall coding abilities, such as GPT-4, tend to produce more sophisticated harmful software.

These findings highlight the need for stringent safety evaluations for diverse code agents. The underlying dataset and related code are publicly available at https://github.com/AI-secure/RedCode (opens in new tab).

Read the paper NEW RESEARCH Towards industrial foundation models: Integrating large language models with industrial data intelligence

Although large language models (LLMs) excel at language-focused tasks like news writing, document summarization, customer service, and supporting virtual assistants, they can face challenges when it comes to learning and inference on numeric and structured industry data, such as tabular and time series data. To address these issues, researchers from Microsoft propose a new approach to building industrial foundation models (IFMs). As outlined in a recent blog post, they have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of cross-domain universal in-context learning on tabular data and the significant potential it could achieve.

The researchers designed Generative Tabular Learning (opens in new tab) (GTL), a new framework that integrates multi-industry zero-shot and few-shot learning capabilities into LLMs. This approach allows the models to adapt and generalize to new fields, new data, and new tasks more effectively, flexibly responding to diverse data science tasks. This technical paradigm has been open-sourced (opens in new tab) to promote broader use.

Read the paper Microsoft Research in the news Microsoft’s smaller AI model beats the big guys: Meet Phi-4, the efficiency king 

December 12, 2024

Microsoft launched a new artificial intelligence model today that achieves remarkable mathematical reasoning capabilities while using far fewer computational resources than its larger competitors.

Microsoft researcher Ece Kamar discusses the future of AI agents in 2025 

Tech Brew | December 12, 2024

With AI agents widely expected to take off in 2025, the director of Microsoft’s AI Frontiers lab weighs in on the future of this technology, the safeguards needed, and the year ahead in AI research.

A new frontier awaits — computing with light 

December 12, 2024

In the guts of a new type of computer, a bunch of tiny LEDs emit a green glow. Those lights have a job to do. They’re performing calculations. Right now, this math is telling the computer how to identify handwritten images of numbers. The computer is part of a research program at Microsoft.

View more news and awards Opens in a new tab

The post Research Focus: Week of December 16, 2024 appeared first on Microsoft Research.

LG Electronics is previewing its updated 2025 QNED EVO TV lineup, showing new features in color technology, wireless capabilities, AI processing, and personalized experiences. We'll learn more about the new TVs at CES next month.

Nvidia got PC gamers a questionable holiday gift this year: worse performance in their games.

That's according to testing done by Tom's Hardware, who found that playing PC games while running the recently launched Nvidia desktop app can reduce in-game frame rates by as much as 15 percent in some cases. Tom's Hardware tried this out with several different games, including Black Myth Wukong and Baldur's Gate 3, and found performance dips of varying degrees in all of them.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best video games you may have missed in 2024

So, what the heck is going on here? It turns out that the Nvidia app, which Nvidia launched last month to give users a one-stop shop for downloading new drivers and whatnot, has some AI-fueled "game filters" that are theoretically supposed to make games look a little better. These are turned on by default, and if they're on, they can reduce frame rates in games, even when the filters aren't being applied to the game in question.

Nvidia gave a statement to Tom's Hardware acknowledging the issue and giving simple instructions for how to turn the feature off and fix your performance problems:

1. Open the Nvidia app and go to Settings

2. Go to Features

3. Go to Overlay

4. Go to Game Filters and Photo Mode and turn off the game filters

Apparently, this will cure what ails you. Good luck, gamers.

Nothing Technology has announced the rollout of Nothing OS 3.0 (NOS 3.0) to its phones, based on Android 15. This update is supposed to offer more customization options while staying true to Nothing’s brand.

SAVE 29%: As of Dec. 18, you can get a Bose TV speaker for just $199, down from $279. That's a 29% discount or $80 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose TV Speaker $199.00 at Amazon
$279.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

December is usually a time to shop for friends and family, but there’s no harm in treating yourself to a little something as well. If you’re in the market for a high-quality TV speaker that won’t cost you a fortune, Amazon has some pretty good deals going on right now.

As of Dec. 18, you can snag a Bose TV speaker for just $199, down from $279. That’s a 29% discount, or $80 off the list price.

SEE ALSO: The best soundbars compensate for your flat-screen TV's flat-sounding speakers

This Bose TV speaker is built to amplify your favorite movies, shows, and sporting events with clear, immersive audio. It has two angled full-range drivers and Bluetooth capabilities so you can stream music, podcasts, and more. You can connect up to three devices (HDMI, optical in, and AUX in) and control it with the included remote.

At just two inches tall, it’s designed to sit in front of your TV without blocking the screen. You can also mount it on the wall; however, the wall brackets are sold separately.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Dec. 18: OUR TOP PICK Amazon 55-inch Omni Fire TV $339.99 (save $210 with Prime-exclusive code 55OMNI) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Echo Dot with Echo Buds $44.99 (save $54.99) Get Deal BEST SMARTWATCH DEAL Garmin Forerunner 255S $239.84 (save $110.15) Get Deal BEST GAMING DEAL Amazon Luna controller $44.99 (save $25) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Soundcore Space A40 noise-cancelling earbuds $44.99 (save $35) Get Deal

Last-minute shoppers have it easy in 2024. Not only are there plenty of gadgets still on sale at Amazon — some even at record-low prices — but many of them will still arrive by Christmas. Brands like Echo, Garmin, Anker, and more are still offering deals up to 55% on Dec. 18, and we've rounded up a few of the best ones.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to take a peek at our selections from Dec. 16 and Dec. 17 as well. Most of those deals are still live, including nearly half-price Beats Studio Buds and a $40 price drop on the Fitbit Charge 6.

Our top pick: Amazon 55-inch Omni Fire TV Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Omni Fire TV $339.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $210.00 with Prime-exclusive code 55OMNI Get Deal

Currently $50 cheaper than Amazon's new 4-Series 4K Fire TV in the same size, the Omni Fire TV offers a very similar package. With a slim bezel, vivid 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, and hands-free Alexa control, it's a great pick for a home theater experience that won't break the bank. With a compatible webcam, it even supports two-way video calling. Usually $549.99, Prime members can snag it on sale for just $339.99 with the code 55OMNI. That's a savings of 38%.

Not a Prime member? You can sign up for a free 30-day trial to snag this deal. Otherwise, it'll run you $369.99, which is still a pretty solid deal.

Echo Dot with Echo Buds Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) with Echo Buds $44.99 at Amazon
$99.98 Save $54.99 Get Deal

Knock off two gifts from your list with this bundle deal that includes the fifth-generation Echo Dot and the Echo Buds. A $99.98 value, you can snag both at Amazon for just $44.99 as of Dec. 18. That's less than the cost of either device on its own at full price — or 55% in savings. The Echo Dot is designed to seamlessly add smart benefits into your daily routine. It's small enough to slide onto your nightstand or bookshelf and can be used to receive reminders, save recipes, set timers, schedule tasks, communicate with friends and family, light up your room, listen to music, or play some soothing white noise to help you fall asleep. The Echo Buds are a solid pair of budget-friendly wireless earbuds that sound great, are simple to use, can last up to 20 hours with the charging case, and seamlessly pair up with your other Alexa devices, including the Dot.

Garmin Forerunner 255S Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 255S GPS running smartwatch $239.84 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $110.15 Get Deal

A gift for the runner in your life that'll really wow them, the Garmin Forerunner 255S is on sale for a record-low of $239.84 at Amazon as of Dec. 18. That's 31% in savings. The Forerunner 255S offers in-depth training and recovery insights to help runners of all types reach their goals. It can last for 12 days in battery mode and up to 26 in GPS mode, and packs a built-in triathlon feature and over 30 different activity profiles. It also features training readiness scores, personalized suggested workouts for race prep based on the race and course you input, morning reports with an overview of sleep, recovery, and training outlook, and more. And of course, when you're not in training mode, it also serves as a solid smartwatch.

Amazon Luna controller Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Luna controller $44.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal

"An excellent gamepad that provides the optimal Luna game-streaming experience," as our friends at PCMag (which is also owned by Ziff Davis) wrote in their review, the Amazon Luna controller is on sale for only $44.99 as of Dec. 18. That's 36% off its usual cost. The biggest standout with this controller is its separate WiFi connection, which reduces input lag as you play. Technically, it's just an optional add-on for the Luna gaming experience, but PCMag called it a "must-have" and even granted it a coveted Editors' Choice award.

Soundcore Space A40 noise-cancelling earbuds Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Space A40 noise-cancelling earbuds $44.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

Our sister site PCMag also tested out the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds, writing that they "deliver quality active noise cancellation and balanced, detailed audio for a modest price" in their review. These buds offer 50 hours of audio playback, a fast-charging feature that gives you an additional four hours of battery life from 10 minutes of charging, and adaptive noise cancellation you can customize inside the app. On sale for only $44.99 — down from the usual $79.99 — it's hard to beat these budget-friendly buds. Snag 'em for their lowest price on record as of Dec. 18.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

SAVE 40%: As of Dec. 18, you can get 40% off Calm gift cards. Gift a lifetime subscription for $239.99, or an annual subscription for $41.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Calm Calm Lifetime Subscription Gift Card $239.99 at Calm
$399.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal

If you’re still scrambling to find the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones this holiday season, you might want to consider giving a digital gift. This way, you won’t have to physically shop for anything, and your giftee can enjoy the present as soon as you send it.

SEE ALSO: The very best digital gifts and subscriptions you can send via email

As of Dec. 18, you can get 40% off Calm gift cards. Just purchase the Calm gift card online, choose to get a certificate (that you can print out) or send it digitally via email, and let your giftee use their code for a year or a lifetime subscription to Calm.

The regular price for a Calm gift card is $69.99 for an annual Premium subscription and $399.99 for a lifetime subscription. With the 40% discount, you can get the annual subscription for $41.99 and the lifetime subscription for $239.99.

SEE ALSO: 50 last-minute gifts that will actually arrive on time

Calm Premium offers access to hundreds of guided meditations, Sleep Stories, exclusive music tracks, and more to help with relaxation, mindfulness, and sleep. The Premium membership also includes a Calm Masterclass and access to all Calm Body programs.

During a time that’s often filled with stress and, for some, grief, giving the gift of a Calm membership could be exactly what someone needs to find a moment of peace and a chance to reset their mind and body.

If you suspect there is a hidden Bluetooth device in your house, apartment, or office—or you just lost a Bluetooth-capable device—there's an easy way to track down its physical location thanks to an app on iPhone and Android. Here's how to do it.

Apple has made some improvements to its web-based Apple Maps beta. The new update adds the Look Around feature, which lets users see 360-degree views of certain locations, much like Google Street View.

Adobe will stop accepting new signups for its 20GB Photography Plan on January 15th. Existing subscribers will not be removed from the 20GB Photography Plan, but their monthly bill will increase from $10 to $15.

SAVE UP TO 53%: You still have time to order awesome kids' presents that arrive before Dec. 25, including toys like National Geographic STEM kits and tech like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition.

Best last-minute kids' presents Best STEM kit deal National Geographic Amazing Reactions Chemistry Set $26.99 at Amazon (save $13) Get Deal Best kids' tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition $169.99 at Samsung (save $100) Get Deal Best smart speaker deal Amazon Echo Dot Kids $27.99 at Amazon (save $32) Get Deal

Welcome to crunch time. We're exactly one week away from Dec. 25, which means that if you didn't finish shopping yesterday, today is the next best option. Thankfully, you still have time to order great gifts for kids that'll arrive on time to get wrapped and placed under the tree.

Of course, many kids have big opinions about what they'd like for the holidays, but there's plenty to choose from that's on sale today, including tech and toys. Here are some perfect gifting options if you're still shopping for the kids on your holiday list this year.

Best STEM kit deal Opens in a new window Credit: National Geographic National Geographic Amazing Reactions Chemistry Set $26.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $13.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With over 100 science experiments, the National Geographic Amazing Reactions Chemistry Set is a perfect gift for the curious kiddo in your life. This Amazon-exclusive set is for any kid who loves the science fair or enjoys figuring out how things work. From chemical reactions to crystal growing to fizzy combination, the chemistry set is a great hands-on gift. Plus, it's a gift to parents since the kit is sure to keep kids occupied during winter break from school.

The National Geographic Amazing Reactions Chemistry Set usually sells for $39.99, but it's currently 33% off at Amazon, which means you'll pay just $26.99 for the set.

Best tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition $169.99 at Samsung
$269.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With an 11-inch screen and durable design, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition is great for kids who like to watch shows, play games, or read books on a tablet. The tablet comes with a puffy cover in either yellow, red, or blue, two tethers to help kids keep a good handle on the tablet, stickers, and three pens to use with the tablet.

While the tablet typically costs $269.99, it's on sale at Samsung for just $169.99 which means you'll be savings an impressive $100.

Best smart speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Dot Kids $27.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $32.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With options of either a dragon or an owl, the Amazon Echo Dot Kids is a great smart home device for a kids' bedroom. The smart speaker allows kids to tune into their favorite music and stories, but it can also help them set up an independent schedule. Kids can use the Echo Dot to ask Alexa homework questions or tell her to set an alarm or control lights. They can also ask for updates on the weather to help plan their outfit for the day.

The Amazon Echo Dot Kids comes with plenty of parental controls, and it's also backed by Amazon's 2-year worry-free warranty, which states that if the devices breaks within the first two years of ownership, Amazon will replace it for free.

More last-minute kids' gifts that'll arrive before Dec. 25

• National Geographic Jumbo Crystal Growing Kit — $12.99 $16.99 (save $4)

• Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Ice Cream Party Set — $12.99 $16.99 (save $4)

• Melissa & Doug Yellowstone National Park Grizzly Bear Games and Play Set — $14.99 $37.99 (save $23)

• National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light — $15.99 $19.99 (save $4)

• Nation Geographic Dinosaur Terrarium Kit — $16.49 $19.99 (save $3.50)

• National Geographic Rock Bingo Game — $17.49 $24.99 (save $7.50)

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $22.99 $49.99 (save $27)

• Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Kindle Kids — $109.99 $129.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Fire 10 HD Kids tablet — $109.99 $189.99 (save $80)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids — $144.99 $179.99 (save $35)

I don't know where this year went, but Christmas is only a week away, and then a few days later it'll be 2025. We're in the final stretch, and if you're still looking for last-minute gift ideas, we have you covered.

It was Christmas Day night and I couldn't sleep. Not through excitement for continued Twixmas celebrations, but because I knew I had a difficult and almost certainly heartbreaking conversation ahead of me.

My self-esteem was at an all time low and a situationship of mine had developed into an emotionally torturous interaction. Sex with a good friend meant catching unreciprocated feelings. Despite the friendship, he'd gone quiet and ghosted me during a winter lockdown. It felt terrible. Rotating all possibilities, my mind searched for answers during this period of silence. My inner critic used the situation as a stick to beat me with, evidence of all my shortcomings, proof that I was deficient in other people's eyes (not just my own).

SEE ALSO: The best dating apps and sites for this cuffing season

When he got back in touch to search for guilt absolution, to make sure his reputation remained unscathed in our friendship group, I was confused by his intentions and, I'll admit, I hoped he'd had a change of heart. Things came to a long overdue head as I sat next to my parents' Christmas tree sipping a gin and tonic — I knew I needed to end my misery and ask him what he wanted from me. Deep down, I realised the answer possibly wasn't going to be what my heart wanted, but I needed to be set free from this waiting room of sorrow. My anxiety was mounting to unbearable levels and I knew I couldn't put off the conversation any longer. So, on Boxing Day morning, I rolled over in bed and awoke to a message from him, apologising yet again for his behaviour. I sighed in recognition of what I needed to do.

After I'd sent the dreaded message, I sat in silence waiting for the inevitable. When his message arrived, the contents weren't surprising to me — but that didn't make it any less painful. And though I was free from the turmoil, that's when anxiety gave way to heartbreak, a feeling that wasn't exactly what I'd hoped to be dealing with over Christmas, a time of year I usually love. A neverending stream of tears rolled down my face as I sat watching my favourite films with my family. My mum looked at me with pity and concern, as I muffled tragic sniffs on the sofa. It was, as you can imagine, not a great time. And no amount of pigs in blankets or Terry's Chocolate Oranges would make me feel better (though you can't say I didn't try!).

Heartbreak, sadly, doesn't take a day off when it's a special occasion.

Heartbreak, sadly, doesn't take a day off when it's a special occasion. And the holidays can be particularly difficult when you're in the throes of a breakup, or the ending of a situationship. As writer Annie Lord, author of Notes On Heartbreak, tells me, "It's pretty horrible because everyone's so loved up during Christmas."

"There are couples everywhere, holding hands at the Christmas markets, looking for rings in shops, and when you turn on the TV they're still there, kissing in cozy cottages in The Holiday, declaring their love in Love Actually. I think the coldness makes people want to cozy up with someone they love," she says.

Just because it's hard doesn't mean you have to put up with it, though. Mashable spoke to psychotherapists for tips on coping with heartbreak during the holidays.

Limit your time on social media

If there's anything guaranteed to make you want to throw your phone at the wall, it's seeing endless pics of engagement rings with the caption "so, this happened!" You simply don't need to see it right now.

Fiona Yassin, family psychotherapist and founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, says it's a good idea to limit your social media use so you're not bombarded with what your friends and internet pals are up to during this period. "When we see others having fun on social media and we feel we are not, it can trigger negative emotions like loneliness and isolation," says Yassin.

Here are some tips on how to limit your Instagram usage and TikTok usage.

SEE ALSO: Why social media algorithms hurt after a breakup Give yourself time to grieve

The holidays are a time that champions joy. And that can be particularly challenging when you feel, well, pretty rotten. Giving yourself permission to feel sad is important in validating the difficult emotions you'll be (understandably!) feeling during this time.

"Don't feel like you're ruining other people's good time."

Dr. Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, says, "A big break up is comparable to grief, particularly if that person was very embedded in your life. Instead of rushing out to date again and trying to 'get over it,' be gentle with yourself and give yourself time and space to process the loss."

Also, don't feel bad for feeling sad. "Don't feel like you're ruining other people's good time," author Lord says. "You are not a burden. It's an honour to be able to be there for people when they need it."

If you've been ghosted, Mashable has some tips on how to move on.

Featured Video For You 'I was cloaked.' What it's like to be blocked and stood up by your Hinge date. Surround yourself with people you love

Heartbreak is a universal emotion and chances are, everyone around you right now will have gone through it at some point in their life. Opening up to others about what you're going through can make you feel less alone.

"Speak to your parents or any older members of your family. Most of the time they have been through this before and they survived, knowing this can give you hope," says Lord. "Christmas means you're often surrounded by your family and friends. Celebrate the love you get from them, a love that is often less intense or glamorous, but a lot more enduring than romantic love."

Want more sex and dating stories in your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's new weekly After Dark newsletter.

Going home or to safe spaces can sometimes give you an opportunity to reconnect with your younger self. "Going home can be quite grounding," she adds. "You're surrounded by all this stuff from when you were younger which can put things into perspective. I remember finding an old diary of mine where I was crying over a guy and though I was now upset about another one, I could still see that I was dealing with it in a much better way."

Not everyone has access to a support network at this time of year. If your heartbreak is impacting your mental health or if you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody.

You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you're based in the UK, contact the Samaritans (116 123). If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

Try some grounding techniques

As a practical daily means to cope with heartbreak, Yassin recommends equipping yourself with some grounding techniques, which can be helpful for people to manage and work through emotions they wish they weren't feeling. Grounding techniques are exercises or activities that help you refocus on what's happening in the present moment, distracting yourself from triggers, anxious feelings, or difficult emotions.

"By using grounding techniques, we are not saying that we will not deal with or process the emotions and sensations, but we are saying that right now, at this moment, this is not going to intrude in what I’m doing," says Yassin. "Walking can be really good to bring you back into the moment. When we walk and put one foot in front of the other we are actually stimulating both sides of the brain in a process called Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) which can feel soothing for some." Here are six free grounding meditations to help you get started.

Repetitive activities like cross-stitch or crochet can have a soothing effect for some, while others like to keep themselves in motion. "Journaling or watching a good movie can also be effective grounding techniques," says Yassin. Touroni also recommends journaling as it "helps get difficult thoughts and feelings down on paper so you can gain greater clarity and a new perspective." Check out Mashable's non-intimidating guide to journaling to get started.

Look after your physical needs

When you're feeling low, it can be difficult to muster the energy to look after ourselves. Taking care of your immediate physical needs can be a way of making yourself feel a little better, despite not being able to shift the difficult emotions that come with heartbreak. Make sure you're hydrated, eating, and getting plenty of rest.

"Make sure you’re doing activities that keep you both physically and mentally healthy e.g. regular exercise, eating healthy, nutritious meals etc.," Touroni says. "Avoid turning to substances to numb any difficult thoughts and feelings. They might provide relief in the short-term but are likely to make things harder in the long run."

Can't sleep? Here are some tips on tangible things you can do to help you drift off.

Don't rush into another relationship

Heartbreak can also be accompanied with feelings of panic, especially if you have been contending with anxious thoughts about "running out of time." If you can resist some of these feelings and try to reassure that anxious voice in your head, know that you are allowed to take time to heal, and that you are enough on your own.

Yassir advises against rushing into another relationship straight away— often referred to as a "rebound". "People that rebound tend to be those who are already struggling around interpersonal relations and relationships. Build a relationship with yourself before having a relationship with someone else. It’s unlikely a rebound relationship will be healthy if you don’t give yourself the time and space to be able to work out what you’re feeling."

SEE ALSO: What are the rules for blocking someone after a breakup? Don't read into their texts

As the queen of reading-into-text-messages, I feel highly qualified in saying that it's completely natural to want to search for signs of hope in any contact you might have had from the heartbreak-inflicter. But this habit can also prolong your agony and make it difficult to accept what's really happening.

"If they message you 'Happy Christmas' don't start thinking it signals anything."

"If they message you 'Happy Christmas' don't start thinking it signals anything," says Lord. "They're probably just trying to be polite. At the same time if you're the one who ended the relationship don't send a text, it will confuse your ex."

A good rule of thumb is to assume that there is never a hidden meaning to their messages. If a person wants something badly enough, they'll find a way to make sure their meaning and intention are fully understood. Tell yourself that if they want to communicate something important, they will likely do so in an explicit manner.

Cut yourself some slack

When you're feeling sad, the last thing you need is another voice inside your head telling you what a misery you are. Your inner critic can rear their annoying head during this time to convince you that you're bringing down the vibe, but most people understand that heartbreak truly is the worst.

"Be really kind to yourself," advises Lord. "Don't get annoyed if you don't get off the sofa for the entire day, that's what Christmas is for and everyone's doing it too. It might feel like in doing these things you're going backward, but you're not you're getting somewhere because stewing and feeling miserable is all part of the process."

Talk to someone

If you're really struggling, don't suffer in silence. Speak to a mental health professional if you can. Shout is a 24/7 free mental health service in the UK (Text SHOUT to 85258). If you're in the U.S., text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

"If you find yourself stuck in the same recurring relationship patterns, it could be a sign to dig a little deeper," Touroni advises. "Negative early life experiences can sometimes impact the types of relationships we form — and choose —in later life. If you suspect there are things in your past that you haven’t dealt with, therapy is a great place to start this process."

Lean on your support network and don't bottle up your feelings. "If you’re struggling, reach out to friends and family," Touroni adds. "These are the moments when we need their support the most, and the right people will want to be there for you."

If you're nursing a bruised or shattered heart this Christmas, know that you're not alone. And know that it won't be forever. Take care of yourself.

This article was first published in 2022 and republished in 2024.

SAVE UP TO 25%: Now through Dec. 23, you can save up to 25% off select items during Instacart’s ‘Tis a Big Deal Week. Shop Sephora, Best Buy, The Home Depot, Kohl’s, Petco, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart Instacart’s ‘Tis a Big Deal Week Save up to 25% Shop Now

The holiday shopping season is almost over, but that doesn't mean it's too late to find some great deals on last-minute gifts. With just a week to go until Christmas, Instacart has announced its second annual Holiday Deal Week, where you can get up to 25% off select products from major retailers like Petco, Kohl’s, Best Buy, and others.

SEE ALSO: Give yourself the gift of time with 50% off a Shipt annual membership

If you don’t have an Instacart membership, the company’s also offering a limited-time deal where you can get two weeks of Instacart+ (formerly Instacart Express) for free. This’ll get you $0 grocery delivery fees on orders of $10 or more (usually, it’s $35), in addition to other perks, like a one-year subscription to New York Times Cooking and free Peacock Premium.

Once the two-week trial is up, you can either cancel or opt to pay $99/year or $9.99/month for the Instacart+ membership.

To shop the deals, visit the Instacart app or website, add the items you want to your cart, and watch the savings add up. You can also send a gift directly to friends and family by entering their address and selecting “make it a gift” at checkout.

Buying gifts for gamers can be tough, since it’s hard to know what they like or already own. If you’re in doubt, the best option may be to let them buy what they want with a gift card.

System76 has just released a new Pangolin laptop. The new version has been redesigned with an all-aluminum body and some helpful internal upgrades.

Have you been taking advantage of all of the deals this holiday season? Don't forget about a VPN! You can save 75% on NordVPN from now until Sunday.

SAVE $130: The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are on sale for $99.99 (normally $229.99) as a Dec. 18 Bonus Deal of the Day at Best Buy — a 57% discount on their $229.99 MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro $99.99 at Best Buy
$229.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

We're getting a little down to the wire, here, but Best Buy might have just dropped one of the season's best deals on a sub-$100 stocking stuffer for Samsung users.

The tech retailer has the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro on sale for just $99.99 (normally $229.99) as of its Bonus Deals of the Day for Dec. 18. That's a massive 57% savings and what appears to be their lowest price ever. At the time of writing, they were available for pickup as soon as Dec. 24 or available for delivery soon as tomorrow, depending on the color. Choose from graphite, white, or bora purple variants.

SEE ALSO: From studying to working out, these are the best earbuds of 2024

A 2022 release, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are still Samsung's current flagship earbuds. Their "strong audio quality and stronger active noise cancellation" make them an excellent buy for those who own other Galaxy devices, according to Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry, who gave them a 4/5 rating at launch. He thought Apple's Beats Fit Pro had a slight edge over them due to their broader compatibility, and the fact that they're $30 cheaper at full price. But if you've committed to the Samsung ecosystem, Best Buy's one-day deal pretty much neutralizes the competition.

Amazon and Samsung's website were technically matching Best Buy's offer when we checked, but only if you bought the Galaxy Buds2 Pro in used condition or traded in an older audio device, respectively. Elsewhere, they were sold out at Target and full price at Walmart.

The Meta Quest 3 is a fantastic headset for virtual reality and mixed reality experiences, but the controllers aren’t perfect. Thankfully, a simple accessory fixed all my problems and gave me some unexpected upgrades.

Oops, you did it again. You waited until the last minute to get a gift. You love your parents, boyfriend/girlfriend, friends, and that coworker who always has work tea — but when you're stressing over the perfect gift for said special person, time gets away from you. Finding a last-minute gift that's actually meaningful is hard, to be quite honest. But there are still ways to get personalized or sentimental gifts even in a time crunch. Depending on how last-minute you're pushing it, there are actually some really neat gifts you can get. This is especially true if you're an Amazon Prime member and get free one- and two-day shipping, plus some overnight delivery options. The safest bets include online services, subscription services, and stuff with digital delivery. And in a year when everything is more expensive than we're used to, a simple gift card isn't boring — it's a lifesaver. Check out some unique last-minute gift options below.