I grew up surrounded by electromagnetic radiation research. Not in the way most kids grow up around their parents’ work — absorbing it passively, tuning it out. My father was Dr. Martin Blank, a Columbia University researcher who spent decades studying the biological effects of electromagnetic fields. From dinner table conversations to research papers scattered across the house, the question of what EMF does to the human body was the backdrop of my childhood.
That background set me on a path I didn’t expect. After more than 20 years as a software engineer — including teaching at the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering — I founded Shield Your Body in 2012.
SYB exists for a simple reason: to make it easier for everyone to reduce their exposure to EMF radiation from the technology we all use every day. We do this through lab-tested protection products and free education — because we believe the best EMF protection is the kind you don’t have to buy.
My father, Dr. Martin Blank, earned his PhD in physical chemistry from Columbia University in 1960. He went on to become one of the world’s leading researchers on the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation, spending over three decades at Columbia’s Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics.
His research demonstrated that even non-ionizing electromagnetic fields — the kind emitted by cell phones, WiFi routers, and power lines — can trigger biological stress responses at the cellular level. This was controversial when he started. It remains controversial today, largely because the technology industry has a financial interest in downplaying the science. But the evidence kept accumulating.
Dad contributed to the BioInitiative Report, an independent review of the scientific literature on EMF health effects that was first published in 2007 and updated in 2012. He served as a co-editor and authored multiple sections. The report compiled findings from thousands of peer-reviewed studies and concluded that existing safety standards were inadequate.
In 2014, he published Overpowered: The Dangers of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMF) and What You Can Do about It. His goal was to make the science accessible to everyone — not just other researchers. He wanted people to understand the risks and make informed decisions.
My father passed away in June 2018. But his research, his commitment to public health, and his belief that people deserve to know the truth — those live on. In many ways, SYB is my continuation of his life’s work.
Before SYB, I spent over 20 years building software — enterprise applications, web platforms, the kind of work where you live inside technology every day. I also taught at USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering, working with the next generation of technologists.
But growing up with my father’s research gave me a perspective most people in tech don’t have. I understood the science. I saw the data. And I realized there was a massive gap: the science on EMF health effects was strong and growing, but consumers had almost no practical options for protecting themselves.
The products that did exist were often dubious — stickers, crystals, “harmonizers” with no scientific basis. There was nothing grounded in real physics, tested in real labs, designed by someone who actually understood both the science and the technology.
That’s why I started Shield Your Body. Not because I’m anti-technology — I spent my career building it. But because I believe we can enjoy the benefits of modern technology while taking simple, science-based steps to reduce our exposure to its emissions. It’s about balance, not fear.
Every SYB product is built on the same principle that has been universally accepted in physics for nearly 200 years: the Faraday cage.
A Faraday cage is a mesh of conductive material that deflects electromagnetic radiation. It’s the same principle used in MRI rooms, military communications, and microwave oven doors. SYB products use shielding materials woven with conductive metals to deflect EMF radiation away from your body.
This is not magic. It’s not a sticker that “neutralizes” radiation. It’s not a crystal that “harmonizes” frequencies. It is measurable, testable, and repeatable — which is exactly how we approach it.
Every SYB product is tested in an accredited, independent laboratory using industry-standard methods. Our shielding products deflect up to 99.9% of wireless EMF radiation at tested frequencies. We say “up to” because real-world performance varies with conditions like signal frequency, angle, and distance. We believe in being honest about what our products do — and what they don’t.
Our product line includes phone cases and pouches, laptop pads and shields, baby blankets, apparel, and more — used by customers in over 30 countries. Every product is designed to make it easier for you to reduce your exposure without changing how you use your technology.
Here’s something that might surprise you about an EMF protection company: we believe the best EMF protection is free.
You don’t need to buy a single product to significantly reduce your EMF exposure. Simple changes — like not carrying your phone in your pocket, using speakerphone instead of holding your phone to your head, or keeping your laptop off your lap — cost nothing and make a real difference.
That’s why education is at the core of everything we do:
We’re not gatekeeping knowledge behind product sales. The information comes first. If you decide a shielding product would help, we’re here. But the education stands on its own.
R Blank is the CEO and founder of Shield Your Body. He is the son of Dr. Martin Blank, a Columbia University researcher who was one of the world’s foremost experts on the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation. R has over 20 years of experience as a software engineer, taught at USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering, and is the author of Empowered and host of The Healthier Tech Podcast.
Yes. Shield Your Body (SYB) was founded in 2012 and has been in continuous operation for over a decade. SYB products are tested in accredited, independent, 3rd party laboratories, sold in over 30 countries, and built on the universally accepted Faraday cage shielding principle. The company is founded on decades of peer-reviewed EMF research.
EMF shielding is based on the Faraday cage principle — a nearly 200-year-old concept in physics. Conductive materials form a barrier that deflects electromagnetic radiation. SYB products use shielding fabrics woven with conductive metals to deflect EMF away from your body. Learn more in our guide to EMF shielding materials.
Yes. Every SYB shielding product is tested in an FCC-accredited laboratory using industry-standard testing methods. Our products deflect up to 99.9% of wireless EMF radiation at tested frequencies. We publish our lab test results so you can verify our claims yourself.
The Healthier Tech Podcast is hosted by R Blank and features conversations with scientists, doctors, and health experts about how to live healthier lives alongside modern technology. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms.
Empowered: A Practical Guide to Protecting Yourself from EMF is a book by R Blank that provides clear, actionable guidance for reducing your EMF exposure in everyday life. It builds on the scientific foundation laid by Dr. Martin Blank’s Overpowered and translates the research into practical steps anyone can take.
Whether you’re new to EMF protection or have been researching it for years, here’s where to go next:
SYB started with one family’s commitment to science and public health. Today, it’s a community of people in over 30 countries who believe we can enjoy modern technology — and live healthier lives with it, too.
