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Joann, the fabric and craft retailer, is closing. Unfortunately, that means scammers are swarming: Warn the DIY crafters in your life.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a consumer warning this week specifically addressing the Joann Fabric & Craft scammers. The deception is relatively sophisticated. The FTC warned that bad actors are running fake promos online and on social media, promising stellar going-out-of-business deals since Joann is closing. Those ads lead to fake websites that steal consumers' info.

Wrote the FTC:

"People report seeing ads for an online JOANN’s bankruptcy sale while browsing sites like Facebook, Pinterest, or Nextdoor. But JOANN isn’t selling online anymore — their own website says so. So if you click on the ad for a (fake) online JOANN sale, you’ll go to the (fake) JOANN’s website and see (fake) super-cheap deals. If you decide to buy, you’ll pay and get an emailed receipt.

But soon, according to reports, you’ll find out the receipt not from JOANN. Your bank or credit card statement will show you’ve paid someone other than JOANN, and you probably won’t be getting a package to go with that bill."

In short, yes, Joann Fabrics is going out of business, but the Joann going-out-of-business online sale you saw advertised on Facebook or Pinterest is fake. In fact, Joann isn't selling anything online anymore.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What to do if you see the Joann Fabrics scam?

Per the FTC, the first thing you need to know is that Joann closing sales are in-person only, meaning online deals are, by definition, fake. Do not click those ads and, if you like, report the phony ads to the platform where it's hosted.

In general, the FTC warned that consumers should be wary of "unusually good deals" and to pay with credit cards when possible, since they often offer more protections.

If you clicked one of these ads and entered any personal information, contact your financial institution right away.

Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

SAVE $15: As of May 8, get a $100 Instacart gift card for $85. That saves you $15 for 15% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart $100 Instacart Gift Card $85 at Newegg
$100 Save $15 Get Deal

These days, prices seem to be going up with no end in sight. Every time I go to the grocery store, I swear the bill gets bigger. While you can make some switches to save money, like going for the generic brands or buying in bulk, sometimes price increases are unavoidable. Luckily, Instacart has a gift card deal that helps you save money on your next shop.

As of May 8, get a $100 Instacard gift card for just $85 at Newegg. That saves you $15 for 15% off. While this is a good opportunity to get someone the gift of groceries, you could also treat yourself to some savings.

Instacart saves you the headache of going to the store. If you need one less thing on your to-do list, build your cart in the Instacart app and a shopper will go to the store for you and deliver groceries straight to your door. And with this gift card deal, it feels like hacking the system to get some extra savings. When you use this $100 gift card that only costs $85, you're saving $15 on your next grocery order.

FREE COLD FOAM: Cold Foam Days at Starbucks take place from May 7 through May 11. Rewards members in the U.S. or Canada can add cold foam to a cold beverage for free. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Starbucks Free Starbucks Cold Foam on Cold Foam Days Learn More

Starbucks has a legion of dedicated fans out there who probably love and hate their relationship with the store in equal measure. Sure, grabbing your favorite drink from Starbucks every single day is the treat you absolutely deserve, but those costs are surely adding up.

That's why it's so key to get everything you can out of Starbucks, including making the most out of free giveaways. On the rare occasion that Starbucks is actually giving away something for free, you should be first in line.

SEE ALSO: Testing the Ninja Slushi by making a frozen version of every drink I can think of

Cold Foam Days have landed Starbucks. From May 7 through May 11, Starbucks Rewards members in the U.S. or Canada can add cold foam to a cold beverage for free. You can redeem the offer by ordering your favorite cold beverage in the Starbucks app and applying the coupon or by letting your barista know you’d like to apply the offer when ordering in person.

If you’re not a Starbucks Rewards member but want to take part in Cold Foam Days, you'll need to sign up by downloading the Starbucks app and creating an account.

We should point out that there is a limit of 50 redemptions per member. That seems like a lot for even the most devoted Starbucks fan, but we're sure there are people out there that could test the limits.

SAVE 28%: The Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle (16GB) is on sale at Amazon for $156.97, down from the full price of $216.97. That's a savings of $60 and the lowest price we've ever spotted at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle (16GB) $156.97 at Amazon
$216.97 Save $60 Get Deal

If you're shopping to celebrate mom this weekend, we're down to crunch time. You'll need to get that order in soon if you want it in-hand for Sunday. If your mom is an avid reader, there's something special that will arrive in time — and it's on sale today.

As of May 8, the Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle (16GB) is on sale for just $156.97, marked down from the usual price of $216.97. That's a 28% discount, or a savings of $60. It also happens to be the lowest price we've spotted at Amazon for the bundle, and $10 less than yesterday's deal.

The Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle is perfect for anyone who's new to e-readers. This deal includes the 16GB Kindle Paperwhite, a fabric cover (in either Jade or Raspberry), and a 9W power adapter.

SEE ALSO: Save $40 on the Kindle Paperwhite Kids and help them read through summer

In Mashable's review of the best Kindles, Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino considers the Kindle Paperwhite to be the best overall option. "The screen's front light is vibrant and has adjustable brightness, meaning it can adjust when transitioning from reading in the sun or shade," she says. "It also comes with adjustable screen warmth, perfect for evening readers who want to give their eyes a chance to relax."

The 7-inch display is designed to be glare-free, which means your summer reading sessions in the sun will be much less squinty. Plus, it's perfect to pack along on vacation since it's both lightweight and waterproof.

If a mom in your life loves to read but doesn't have the best Kindle around, now's a great time to gift the Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle. While it's on sale for $156.97, you'll be gifting unlimited hours of enjoyment while scoring the lowest price we've seen.

SAVE $50: Both the 10-ounce and 14-ounce Ember Smart Mugs are on sale at Best Buy for $79.99 and $99.99, respectively. That's up to 39% in savings. But act fast, as the 10-ounce option is part of Best Buy's Deal of the Day and will be gone tomorrow.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ember Ember Mug 2 (10-ounce) $79.99 at Best Buy
$129.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ember Ember Mug 2 (14-ounce) $99.99 at Best Buy
$149.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're the kind of coffee drinker who requires multiple microwave sessions to get through a cup, it's time you meet the Ember Mug 2. Built just for people like you, the smart mug ensures you never have to worry about reheating your drink. And for a very limited time, it's on sale for nearly 40% off.

As of May 8, both sizes of the Ember Mug 2 are $50 off. The 10-ounce mug is down 39% to just $79.99 from $129.99 as one of Best Buy's Deals of the Day. That means it'll only stick around today, then jump back up to full price. Meanwhile, the 14-ounce mug is down about 33% to $99.99 from $149.99. The larger mug is not part of the limited-time Deal of the Day programming, so you might have more time to grab this one on sale (but no guarantees).

What makes the Ember Mug 2 so special? It features a built-in battery that can hold a set temperature (120 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit) for an hour and a half. If you still can't finish your cup in that time, the included charging coaster can maintain an all-day temperature. Just use the app to customize your mug to the exact degree you prefer and you'll essentially have all day to drink it. A smart LED indicator will even alert you when the mug has the reached the perfect temperature. Take note that it is hand wash only, as to be expected with a smart gadget.

Sure, $80 or $100 is pretty steep to pay for a single mug, but the peace of mind and endless comfort of a hot cup of coffee or tea that comes with it is worth it. Whether you're sick of reheating your cup every morning or know another slow or distracted drinker, the Ember Mug 2 makes for a great gift (yes, even to yourself).

SAVE $320: As of May 8, get the Roborock Q5 Max+ for $279.99, down from its usual price of $599.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 53%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Roborock Q5 Max+ $279.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $320 Get Deal

If you find yourself dealing with dirty floors more often than clean ones, maybe it's time to enlist a robot for some help. A robot vacuum can make all of those seemingly endless cleaning cycles feel way less daunting. Right now, you can score a great one thanks to a discount at Amazon.

As of May 8, get the Roborock Q5 Max+ for $279.99, down from its usual price of $599.99 at Amazon. That's $320 off and a discount of 53%.

SEE ALSO: The Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum is still available at its record-low price

This vacuum is meant to help you clean your home, and then clean itself. It offers seven weeks of hands-free cleaning, since you don't have to empty its reservoir for that long. Then, all you have to do is empty the bin, and it can get right back to its normal cleaning.

It uses 5500 Pa of suction to capture dust, debris, and hair from your carpet, which its DuoRoller brush can power through without you having to worry about tangling. Its on-board LiDAR means it can easily navigate your home with 3D maps, and avoid running into obstacles, too.

You can control and set up cleaning schedules via the included app, but the Q5 Max+ can also use voice control via Alexa, Google Home, and Siri, so all you have to do is tell the robot vacuum what to do, no remote required.

If you're ready to cede some cleaning to a bot, this is a great deal. Grab one and let it transform how you tidy up before they're all gone.

SAVE OVER $350: As of May 8, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station is on sale for $448.99, down from $799 at Amazon. That's 44% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 $448.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $350.01 Get Deal

It's camping season, y'all. And right alongside it: tornado and hurricane season. In other words, it's a good time to grab a source of backup power. You don't necessarily need to spend a fortune on a generator, either. This Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 portable power station can keep you connected and power multiple appliances without breaking the bank — especially since it's on sale.

As of May 8, you can grab the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 portable power station for $448.99 instead of $799 at Amazon. That's 44% in savings and — brace yourselves — one cent cheaper than it was a few weeks ago. Every cent counts in this economy.

Thanks to a 1,500W AC output and a 3,000W surge peak, the Explorer 1000 V2 is capable of powering multiple appliances, including AC units, fridges, and coffee makers — not to mention your phone and laptop. It features two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, one DC car port, three pure sine wave AC ports, LED lights, and a 1,070Wh capacity. And when you activate emergency charging mode via the Jackery app, the power station itself will charge from zero to 100 percent battery in just an hour.

Whether you want a source of backup power for emergencies or a way to stay connected when you're on a camping trip, the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 checks both boxes. After all, there's going off the grid and then there's going off the grid.

SAVE $140: The Tineco Floor One S5 smart wet dry vacuum is on sale at Amazon for $309.99, down from the usual price of $449.99. That's a 31% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tineco Tineco Floor One S5 $309.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $140 Get Deal

Mopping the floors tends to be a messy task. The sloshing water from the bucket, waiting for the floor to dry, and then finding somewhere to store the mop is never fun. No matter where you put it, the mop handle just loves to fall over. Ditch the struggle and upgrade to a cordless combo mop and vacuum that's easy to store. If that sounds ideal, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of May 8, the Tineco Floor One S5 smart cordless wet dry vacuum is on sale for $309.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $449.99. That's a 31% discount that works out to a savings of $140.

With a convenient storage and charging base, the Tineco Floor One S5 is both a cordless vacuum and a powerful mop. On a single charge, you can get up to 35 minutes of cleaning time, and Tineco added a larger clean water tank with this model so it can go longer before it needs a refill. This model also uses the brand's iLoop Smart Sensor, which automatically adjusts suction power, water flow, and speed of the brush roller to match the mess it's cleaning.

SEE ALSO: The Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum is still available at its record-low price

The self-propel design makes the task of floor cleaning less like a workout with the Tineco Floor One S5. The brand mentions this model is especially great for dealing with pet hair or sticky messes.

If you're looking for an all-in-one floor cleaning solution, the Tineco Floor One S5 is ready for the task. With smart features and larger water tanks, the versatile vacuum and mop could be well worth the investment.

Bill Gates is giving away all his wealth, and he's doing it faster than originally planned.

" I will give away virtually all my wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years to the cause of saving and improving lives around the world," the billionaire Microsoft founder said in a post on his blog.

According to Gates' plan, his net worth should drop 99 percent over the next two decades, from the $108 billion he owns now, to "virtually" zero.

Gates also said that the Gates Foundation will "permanently" close its doors on Dec. 31, 2045 — a change of plans, given that the organization was originally supposed to shut down several decades after Gates and his ex-wide Melinda were dead.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Gates said that he now believes that the foundation's goals can be reached on a shorter timeline, with plans to give away more than $200 billion to charity between now and 2045. As for where that money will go, the foundation's main goals will be to end preventable deaths of mothers and babies, eradicate deadly infectious diseases, as well as lift "millions" of people out of poverty.

The Gates Foundation, started by Bill and Melinda in 2000, has given away more than $100 billion for charitable causes so far.

Bill Gates' pledge to give away all his wealth isn't new. Together with billionaire Warren Buffett and Melinda Gates, Bill announced the Giving Pledge campaign in 2010, urging wealthy people to contribute a majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. And even though Gates has already donated around $60 billion of his fortune to the Foundation, he remained a very wealthy man (according to Bloomberg data, he's the fifth richest person in the world, with a total net worth of $168 billion, though he claims he owns $108 billion), partly due to his investments appreciating in value over time. Now, he's going to donate much more rapidly.

SEE ALSO: Rich man Elon Musk confronted rich man Bill Gates about shorting Tesla stock

"People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that 'he died rich' will not be one of them. There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people," he wrote.

TL;DR: Live stream Manchester United vs. Athletic Club for free on RTBF Auvio. The best service for live streaming sport is ExpressVPN.

Manchester United surprised everyone by beating Athletic Club 3-0 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final matchup. It has been a really tough season for Ruben Amorim's side, but they've looked great in this competition. They have one foot in the final already, but the job is not done yet. They still need to focus in front of their own fans to make sure their spot in the final is booked.

If you want to watch Manchester United vs. Athletic Club for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Manchester United vs. Athletic Club?

Manchester United vs. Athletic Club kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on May 8. This fixture takes place at Old Trafford.

How to watch Manchester United vs. Athletic Club for free

Manchester United vs. Athletic Club is available to live stream for free on RTBF Auvio in Belgium.

RTBF Auvio is geo-restricted to Belgium, so if you're away from Belgium for this fixture, you'll have to use a VPN to get access to your usual coverage. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Belgium, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access RTBF Auvio from anywhere in the world.

Unblock RTBF Auvio by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Belgium

4. Visit RTBF Auvio

5. Stream Manchester United vs. Athletic Club in the Europa League for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to RTBF Auvio without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Manchester United vs. Athletic Club before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Manchester United vs. Athletic Club for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Spurs have almost confirmed their spot in the Europa League final, likely against Manchester United. They beat Bodo/Glimt 3-0 in the first leg, so barring an embarrassing collapse in the second leg, they will secure their place in the showpiece event taking place on May 21.

If you want to watch Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur?

Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on May 8. This fixture takes place at the Aspmyra Stadion.

How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free

Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Stream Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free with ExpressVPN.

Lenovo is updating its most eye-popping gaming laptop for 2025, and the new iteration makes your gameplay literally pop.

The Chinese tech giant announced the new Lenovo Legion 9i (Gen 10) today at Tech World Shanghai 2025, billing it as a powerful machine for both gamers and game developers. The big pull? Its 18-inch 4K display has an optional upgrade that will let the user view content in 2K 3D without wearing special glasses or hooking up a separate 3D-compatible monitor.

Credit: Lenovo

According to a press release, the Legion 9i's display uses "a combination of eye-tracking and lenticular lens array" to make visuals appear three-dimensional, as if they're emerging from the screen. Its Lenovo 3D Studio software suite will make it capable of displaying 2D and 3D content simultaneously, either side-by-side or stacked on top of one another, and bring support for 30 games plus "myriad other creation apps."

The 3D-enabled Legion 9i will also have a Dual Mode feature that lets it swap between a buttery 240Hz refresh rate at 4K and up to a borderline-overkill 440Hz refresh rate at FHD. The 2D-only model sticks with 240Hz at all resolutions.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2025

Glasses-free 3D laptops aren't new, but this is Lenovo's first official entry to the category that consumers will actually be able to purchase. (The company brought a conceptual 3D ThinkBook to Mobile World Congress this past February.) It certainly won't be an accessible option for those interested in trying the tech, if its specs are any indication.

The Legion 9i will come with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and will be configurable with up to a monstrous Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, 192GB of memory, and 8TB of storage (with four slots apiece for RAM and SSDs). That's a boatload of power, but Lenovo has done its best to ensure it runs cool and quiet: It has a vapor thermal system that puts dedicated fans right over its WiFi card, SSD, and RAM. This replaces the integrated liquid-cooling system in the original Legion 9i, a 16-incher from 2023, which worked quite well in practice.

Credit: Lenovo

Aesthetically, the Legion 9i looks almost exactly like its predecessor. Its Carbon Black top cover is still made from strong layers of carbon fiber that have been forged together by hand, resulting in camo-like patterns that are different from laptop to laptop. And it still has some ports on the back of its chassis below the lid hinges, but most of them have been moved to its sides, including two Thunderbolt 5 ports. It'll measure in at 15.87 x 11.67 x 0.94 to 1.1 inches (depending on the display type) and start at around a chunky 7.72 pounds.

The original Legion 9i was one of the most powerful laptops Mashable has ever tested (having been only recently dethroned by the M4 Pro Apple MacBook Pro), and its $4,000+ price tag reflected as much. Lenovo hasn't yet revealed exactly how much the new model will cost when it arrives in the U.S. sometime this fall, but a number over the $5,000 mark wouldn't be shocking.

A new era of Whoop is here. As of May 8, two new Whoop devices have been announced: the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG. Alongside the new devices come three new tiers of membership for more affordable options that offer deeper health insights.

Included in our guides to the best fitness trackers and best sleep trackers, Whoop is a screen-free wearable made for both professional athletes and the everyday person. Here's everything you need to know about the new Whoop 5.0 and MG.

What to expect from the Whoop 5.0 and MG With the new Whoop devices come new stylish bands. Credit: Whoop / Mashable Composite

Already one of the most comfortable fitness trackers we've tested, the new Whoop devices will have a 7 percent smaller form with an over 14-day battery life to boot. The devices also come with a new Wireless PowerPack that unlocks a month of charging.

The new Whoop devices are getting a makeover, too. New, more sophisticated bands are coming that include colorful silicone, leather, and patterned knit bands.

The Whoop 5.0 and MG come with new insights that include blood pressure and medical-grade ECG monitors. Here's the full list of new features coming to the Whoop 5.0 and MG:

• Healthspan with Whoop Age: Assesses your health age based on daily habits. Provides you with a Whoop Age and a Pace of Aging score and suggestions on how to slow aging.

• Heart Screener with ECG: Whoop wearables now have an FDA-cleared ECG feature for readings anytime that can also be shared with a healthcare provider. It can detect signs of Atrial Fibrillation and Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications.

• Blood pressure insights: Whoop is the latest wearable to include blood pressure monitoring, providing both systolic and diastolic readings.

• Women's hormonal insights: Smart rings and fitness trackers are becoming rapidly popular for cycle tracking. The new Whoop devices help inform how your cycle affects your recovery, sleep, stress, and performance.

• Sleep performance update: Whoop reconfigured its Sleep Score to deliver more accurate data.

The Whoop app now features cycle tracking insights for all stages of life including menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause. Credit: Whoop Whoop's patent-pending blood pressure monitoring delivers daily readings. Credit: Whoop New affordable membership options Credit: Whoop

Like the popular Oura Ring, Whoop devices also feature a membership fee to access the wearable's full range of features. Previously, Whoop's membership options started at $239 annually or $399 for a two-year membership. Now the brand has unveiled three new membership tiers:

• Whoop One: Professional-grade fitness insights at Whoop's best price of $199 per year.

• Whoop Peak: Advanced health, fitness, and longevity insights designed to help you perform at your peak for longer. Priced at $239 per year.

• Whoop Life: The most powerful Whoop ever, delivering medical-grade health and performance insights. Priced at $359 per year.

Which membership tier you choose will determine which Whoop model you receive. The One and Peak tiers come with the Whoop 5.0, while the Life membership features the MG model.

All models are available for purchase at Whoop now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Whoop Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG Memberships start at $199 Shop Now

In 2023, Celine Song captivated audiences (and broke our hearts) with her Academy Award-nominated debut feature Past Lives. Now, the acclaimed writer and director looks to deliver another swoon-worthy love triangle with her second film, Materialists.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: What's coming to theaters and streaming?

Distributed by A24, Materialists stars three of the world's buzziest stars: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. Johnson plays Lucy, a matchmaker and "eternal bachelorette" who helps couples find their happily ever after, while figuring she has no shot at her own. That all changes when not one but two potential suitors crash into her life.

In one corner we have Harry (Pascal), an incredibly attractive, incredibly rich bachelor who looks to sweep Lucy off her feet. But could this perfect "unicorn" be too good to be true?

In the other corner we have John (Evans), Lucy's (also incredibly attractive) ex-boyfriend. He's a theater actor by night and a cater waiter by day, and he seems determined to make things right with Lucy in a second go at their relationship. However, based on an argument in the trailer above, it seems like the two initially broke up over money concerns — something Harry would never have to worry about.

So will Lucy choose Harry and his riches, or John and her past? Either way, we can't wait to witness another Celine Song love triangle.

Materialists hits theaters June 13.

On May 8, Ultrahuman, the smart ring maker, announced plans to fulfill all U.S. orders out of its Texas-based facility. The tech company, which makes the Ultrahuman Air ring, plans to expand its Plano, Texas, factory, which opened in November 2024.

The "UltraFactory" is a partnership with U.S.-based SVtronics and has plans to expand annual manufacturing capacity to 500,000, meeting U.S. demand. This is part of Ultrahuman's goal to have the factory fulfill all U.S. orders. In a press release, the company stated, "By producing rings domestically, the company is ensuring faster shipping, better service, and increased reliability for U.S. consumers."

The Ultra Factory plans to scale up production to meet and fulfill U.S. demand. Credit: Ultrahuman

It's a well-timed move as tariffs disrupt the tech industry. Foreignly manufactured products like Framework laptops, Anker chargers, and Nvidia GPUs have all seen price hikes due to components and devices being made in China or other countries impacted by President Trump's tariffs. The smart rings manufactured at the Ultra Factory in Plano, Texas, will not face tariffs. But the motivation to expand the U.S. factory is not tariffs-based, according to the company.

A representative from Ultrahuman said that manufacturing in the U.S. allows the company to work more closely with the U.S. health and military sectors to craft hardware and not just software for its U.S. customer base.

The Ultrahuman ring is a popular alternative to the Oura Ring and is among the best smart rings we've tested at Mashable. It has a similar design and is equipped with many of the same features as the Oura Ring. While it's not without its faults, like a buggy app UX, it is a more affordable smart ring. All Ultrahuman Air rings cost $349, the same price as the cheapest Oura model. Ultrahuman rings also don't require a monthly membership to access their full range of features, like Oura's do.

Mohit Kumar, founder and CEO of Ultrahuman, said, "The UltraFactory in Plano, Texas, allows us to deliver products faster, enhance quality control, and further strengthen our commitment to American consumers to bring them cutting-edge health technology."

SAVE OVER $100: As of May 8, the Mac Mini 2024 (M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) is on sale for $494.92 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Mac Mini 2024 (M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) $494.92 at Amazon
$599 Save $104.08 Get Deal

The Apple M4 chip is finally coming down in price, meaning deals on MacBooks and Mac Minis. Rejoice, lovers of all things Apple.

As of May 8, the Mac Mini 2024 (M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) is on sale for $494.92 at Amazon. This deal saves you over $100 on list price.

SEE ALSO: Best MacBooks of 2025: Which MacBook should you buy?

The 2024 Mac Mini boasts the M4 chip and heaps of power. Apple claims that its M4 chip is up to 13 times faster than its fastest silicone Mini model.

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Let's talk about the genius behind Sinners. 

On the surface, the hit movie from Ryan Coogler is about Preacher Boy resisting a vampire. But it's a film packed with history and lore. One where the closer you look, the deeper it gets. And there's a bigger story you might have missed. 

The film follows Sammie Moore (Miles Caton), a musician fighting off Remmick (Jack O'Connell), a bloodsucking villain who is building a hive mind coven. 

But if you listen closely to the opening monologue, Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) talks about a legend that exists in ancient Ireland, Choctaw land, and West Africa: 

"There are legends of people born with the gift of making music so true it can pierce the veil between life and death. This gift can bring healing to their communities, but it also attracts evil."

That evil? Remmick. And that gift? Sammie's song, which literally conjures people from across time to dance at the juke joint.

Fans have speculated that Remmick might also be one of those mythic music makers, but as hypnotic as his Irish song and jig is, it doesn't pierce the veil like Sammie's tune. 

However, the gold coins, the accent, and the fact that Remmick knows exactly what he's looking for suggests Remmick is from a culture that knows of the legend. He may not just be here to feed, but rather, trying to find a way back to his people, to his past.

And Sammie's voice might be his ticket.

And it goes even deeper. Early in the film, Remmick was hunted by a band of Choctaw men. So was Remmick targeting their version of Sammie, a fire keeper with that same dangerous gift? 

All of this raises the real question: Could Ryan Coogler be setting up something much bigger? 

A prequel about Remmick's origin? A sequel about those Choctaw vampire hunters?  Basically, a whole trilogy hiding in plain sight. Coogler has said to Ebony he wrote it as a "finished thing."

But let's be real. Doors like this don't always close.

Sinners is now in theaters.

Proactive work—for example, taking the initiative to improve workflows or design new resources—can energize you and create real value. But it also disrupts your routine and drains mental energy, making it harder to focus, make decisions, or stay engaged later in the day. To stay sharp while going the extra mile, take a few simple […]

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In this issue:

New research on compound AI systems and causal verification of the Confidential Consortium Framework; release of Phi-4-reasoning; enriching tabular data with semantic structure, and more.

NEW RESEARCH Towards Resource-Efficient Compound AI Systems

This research introduces Murakkab, a prototype system built on a declarative workflow that reimagines how compound AI systems are built and managed to significantly improve resource efficiency. Compound AI systems integrate multiple interacting components like language models, retrieval engines, and external tools. They are essential for addressing complex AI tasks. However, current implementations could benefit from greater efficiencies in resource utilization, with improvements to tight coupling between application logic and execution details, better connections between orchestration and resource management layers, and bridging gaps between efficiency and quality.

Murakkab addresses critical inefficiencies in current AI architectures and offers a new approach that unifies workflow orchestration and cluster resource management for better performance and sustainability. In preliminary evaluations, it demonstrates speedups up to ∼ 3.4× in workflow completion times while delivering ∼ 4.5× higher energy efficiency, showing promise in optimizing resources and advancing AI system design.

NEW RESEARCH Smart Casual Verification of the Confidential Consortium Framework

This work presents a new, pragmatic verification technique that improves the trustworthiness of distributed systems like the Confidential Consortium Framework (CCF) and proves its effectiveness by catching critical bugs before deployment. Smart casual verification is a novel hybrid verification approach to validating CCF, an open-source platform for developing trustworthy and reliable cloud applications which underpins Microsoft’s Azure Confidential Ledger service. 

The researchers apply smart casual verification to validate the correctness of CCF’s novel distributed protocols, focusing on its unique distributed consensus protocol and its custom client consistency model. This hybrid approach combines the rigor of formal specification and model checking with the pragmatism of automated testing, specifically binding the formal specification in TLA+ to the C++ implementation. While traditional formal methods are often one-off efforts by domain experts, the researchers have integrated smart casual verification into CCF’s continuous integration pipeline, allowing contributors to continuously validate CCF as it evolves. 

NEW RESEARCH Phi-4-reasoning Technical Report

This report introduces Phi-4-reasoning (opens in new tab), a 14-billion parameter model optimized for complex reasoning tasks. It is trained via supervised fine-tuning of Phi-4 using a carefully curated dataset of high-quality prompts and reasoning demonstrations generated by o3-mini. These prompts span diverse domains—including math, science, coding, and spatial reasoning—and are selected to challenge the base model near its capability boundaries.

Building on recent findings that reinforcement learning (RL) can further improve smaller models, the team developed Phi-4-reasoning-plus, which incorporates an additional outcome-based RL phase using verifiable math problems. This enhances the model’s ability to generate longer, more effective reasoning chains. 

Despite its smaller size, the Phi-4-reasoning family outperforms significantly larger open-weight models such as DeepSeekR1-Distill-Llama-70B and approaches the performance of full-scale frontier models like DeepSeek R1. It excels in tasks requiring multi-step problem solving, logical inference, and goal-directed planning.

The work highlights the combined value of supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning for building efficient, high-performing reasoning models. It also offers insights into training data design, methodology, and evaluation strategies. Phi-4-reasoning contributes to the growing class of reasoning-specialized language models and points toward more accessible, scalable AI for science, education, and technical domains.

NEW RESEARCH TeCoFeS: Text Column Featurization using Semantic Analysis

This research introduces a practical, cost-effective solution for enriching tabular data with semantic structure, making it more useful for downstream analysis and insights—which is especially valuable in business intelligence, data cleaning, and automated analytics workflows. This approach outperforms baseline models and naive LLM applications on converted text classification benchmarks.

Extracting structured insights from free-text columns in tables—such as product reviews or user feedback—can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially when relying on traditional syntactic methods that often miss semantic meaning. This research introduces the semantic text column featurization problem, which aims to assign meaningful, context-aware labels to each entry in a text column.

The authors propose a scalable, efficient method that combines the power of LLMs with text embeddings. Instead of labeling an entire column manually or applying LLMs to every cell—an expensive process—this new method intelligently samples a diverse subset of entries, uses an LLM to generate semantic labels for just that subset, and then propagates those labels to the rest of the column using embedding similarity.

NEW RESEARCH Agentic Reasoning and Tool Integration for LLMs via Reinforcement Learning

This work introduces ARTIST (Agentic Reasoning and Tool Integration in Self-improving Transformers), a new paradigm for LLM reasoning that expands beyond traditional language-only inference. 

While LLMs have made considerable strides in complex reasoning tasks, they remain limited by their reliance on static internal knowledge and text-only reasoning. Real-world problem solving often demands dynamic, multi-step reasoning, adaptive decision making, and the ability to interact with external tools and environments. In this research, ARTIST brings together agentic reasoning, reinforcement learning (RL), and tool integration, designed to enable LLMs to autonomously decide when and how to invoke internal tools within multi-turn reasoning chains. ARTIST leverages outcome-based reinforcement learning to learn robust strategies for tool use and environment interaction without requiring step-level supervision.

Extensive experiments on mathematical reasoning and multi-turn function calling benchmarks show that ARTIST consistently outperforms state-of-the-art baselines, with up to 22% absolute improvement over base models and strong gains on the most challenging tasks. Detailed studies show that agentic RL training leads to deeper reasoning, more effective tool use, and higher-quality solutions.

PODCAST Materialism Podcast: MatterGen (opens in new tab)

What if you could find materials with tailored properties without ever entering the lab? The Materialism Podcast, which is dedicated to exploring materials science and engineering, talks with Tian Xie from Microsoft Research to discuss MatterGen, an AI tool which accelerates materials science discovery. Tune in to hear a discussion of the new Azure AI Foundry, where MatterGen will interact with and support MatterSim, an advanced deep learning model designed to simulate the properties of materials across a wide range of elements, temperatures, and pressures.

IN THE NEWS: Highlights of recent media coverage of Microsoft Research

• When ChatGPT Broke an Entire Field: An Oral History 

  Quanta Magazine | April 30, 2025

  Large language models are everywhere, igniting discovery, disruption and debate in whatever scientific community they touch. But the one they touched first — for better, worse and everything in between — was natural language processing. What did that impact feel like to the people experiencing it firsthand?

  To tell that story, Quanta interviewed 19 NLP experts, including Kalika Bali, senior principal researcher at Microsoft Research. From researchers to students, tenured academics to startup founders, they describe a series of moments — dawning realizations, elated encounters and at least one “existential crisis” — that changed their world. And ours.

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The post Research Focus: Week of May 7, 2025 appeared first on Microsoft Research.

The pursuit of nuclear fusion as a limitless, clean energy source has long been one of humanity’s most ambitious scientific goals. Research labs and companies worldwide are working to replicate the fusion process that occurs at the sun’s core, where isotopes of hydrogen combine to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy. While scalable fusion energy is still years away, researchers are now exploring how AI can help accelerate fusion research and bring this energy to the grid sooner. 

In March 2025, Microsoft Research held its inaugural Fusion Summit, a landmark event that brought together distinguished speakers and panelists from within and outside Microsoft Research to explore this question. 

Ashley Llorens, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director of Microsoft Research Accelerator, opened the Summit by outlining his vision for a self-reinforcing system that uses AI to drive sustainability. Steven Cowley, laboratory director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (opens in new tab), professor at Princeton University, and former head of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, followed with a keynote explaining the intricate science and engineering behind fusion reactors. His message was clear: advancing fusion will require international collaboration and the combined power of AI and high-performance computing to model potential fusion reactor designs. 

Applying AI to fusion research

North America’s largest fusion facility, DIII-D (opens in new tab), operated by General Atomics and owned by the US Department of Energy (DOE), provides a unique platform for developing and testing AI applications for fusion research, thanks to its pioneering data and digital twin platform. 

Richard Buttery (opens in new tab) from DIII-D and Dave Humphreys (opens in new tab) from General Atomics demonstrated how the US DIII-D National Fusion Program (opens in new tab) is already applying AI to advance reactor design and operations, highlighting promising directions for future development. They provided examples of how to apply AI to active plasma control to avoid disruptive instabilities, using AI-controlled trajectories to avoid tearing modes, and implementing feedback control using machine learning-derived density limits for safer high-density operations. 

One persistent challenge in reactor design involves building the interior “first wall,” which must withstand extreme heat and particle bombardment. Zulfi Alam, corporate vice president of Microsoft Quantum (opens in new tab), discussed the potential of using quantum computing in fusion, particularly for addressing material challenges like hydrogen diffusion in reactors.

He noted that silicon nitride shows promise as a barrier to hydrogen and vapor and explained the challenge of binding it to the reaction chamber. He emphasized the potential of quantum computing to improve material prediction and synthesis, enabling more efficient processes. He shared that his team is also investigating advanced silicon nitride materials to protect this critical component from neutron and alpha particle damage—an innovation that could make fusion commercially viable.

Microsoft research blog

PromptWizard: The future of prompt optimization through feedback-driven self-evolving prompts

PromptWizard from Microsoft Research is now open source. It is designed to automate and simplify AI prompt optimization, combining iterative LLM feedback with efficient exploration and refinement techniques to create highly effective prompts in minutes.

Read more Opens in a new tab Exploring AI’s broader impact on fusion engineering

Lightning talks from Microsoft Research labs addressed the central question of AI’s potential to accelerate fusion research and engineering. Speakers covered a wide range of applications—from using gaming AI for plasma control and robotics for remote maintenance to physics-informed AI for simulating materials and plasma behavior. Closing the session, Archie Manoharan, Microsoft’s director of nuclear engineering for Cloud Operations and Infrastructure, emphasized the need for a comprehensive energy strategy, one that incorporates renewables, efficiency improvements, storage solutions, and carbon-free sources like fusion.

The Summit culminated in a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Ade Famoti, featuring Archie Manoharan, Richard Buttery, Steven Cowley, and Chris Bishop, Microsoft Technical Fellow and director of Microsoft Research AI for Science. Their wide-ranging conversation explored the key challenges and opportunities shaping the field of fusion. 

The panel highlighted several themes: the role of new regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with safety and public trust; the importance of materials discovery in developing durable fusion reactor walls; and the game-changing role AI could play in plasma optimization and surrogate modelling of fusion’s underlying physics.

They also examined the importance of global research collaboration, citing projects like the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (opens in new tab) (ITER), the world’s largest experimental fusion device under construction in southern France, as testbeds for shared progress. One persistent challenge, however, is data scarcity. This prompted a discussion of using physics-informed neural networks as a potential approach to supplement limited experimental data. 

Global collaboration and next steps

Microsoft is collaborating with ITER (opens in new tab) to help advance the technologies and infrastructure needed to achieve fusion ignition—the critical point where a self-sustaining fusion reaction begins, using Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure OpenAI Service, Visual Studio, and GitHub (opens in new tab). Microsoft Research is now cooperating with ITER to identify where AI can be leveraged to model future experiments to optimize its design and operations. 

Now Microsoft Research has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) (opens in new tab) to foster collaboration through knowledge exchange, workshops, and joint research projects. This effort aims to address key challenges in fusion, materials, plasma control, digital twins, and experiment optimization. Together, Microsoft Research and PPPL will work to drive innovation and advances in these critical areas.

Fusion is a scientific challenge unlike any other and could be key to sustainable energy in the future. We’re excited about the role AI can play in helping make that vision a reality. To learn more, visit the Fusion Summit event page, or connect with us by email at FusionResearch@microsoft.com.

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The post Microsoft Fusion Summit explores how AI can accelerate fusion research appeared first on Microsoft Research.