Thanks. Is this always an energetic issue, like the bit gets flipped or is it about long term material changes?

Both but primarily the former.

I always wondered can "you not just" dumped a your modern'ish pc in big bucket of mineral oil to fight of the radiation ? Given that water (and other hydrocarbons has been suggested as a shield material for cosmic radiation). As I understand It Cosmic Radiation is the bigger enemy than the "normal" beta/gamma radiation ?