Are you reading email? Watching a video on YouTube? Mindlessly scrolling through TikToks? Which apps we use on our phones – and for how long – can have a big impact on the carbon footprint of our digital lives. In today's world, it can feel like our entire lives are played out in front of a screen. Whether we're texting friends or laughing on TikToks, our digital devices are always nearby. Being close to them can help us feel more connected to friends or family. But it can also physically disconnect us from interacting with people face-to-face. In addition to our mental well-being, these devices can also affect the well-being of our planet. Every device we plug in or charge uses electricity. Much of this energy comes from burning fuels. which they add to the atmosphere greenhouse gases. As a result, each of our facilities leaves a footprint of climate-warming gases, usually carbon dioxide or CO ₂ . (Sarah Wells)