These intensely bright but fleeting flashes of very high-energy radiation signal some of the Universe's most violent happenings.

BBC: Observatory detects record burst

For instance, Toshiba says its robot has a wireless network that can be controlled in high radiation, looking for a better signal when reception is weak.

BBC: Robot 'race' to fix damaged Fukushima nuclear plant

But it does provide a tacit sanction of cell phone radiation fears by a recognized authority, an important social signal.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Many shieldmakers claim to eliminate nearly all handset radiation a dubious assertion because that would effectively squelch the phone's radio signal.

FORBES: Shield sham