 What was the “Piltdon Effect”?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, August 1958. He had always wanted to devote all his time to research, but Piltdon Opener had not given him that opportunity. What had happened, to the proud dream he once had, the dream of exploring uncharted engineering regions, of unlimited time to investigate and develop? The Piltdon Company is built upon your designs and you get handed this deal!" Receiving no satisfactory explanation from Piltdon, they set up their own research. And it had been interesting lately, the work he had been doing nights at home investigating what had been named the Piltdon Effect. They seemed to materialize from a plane just below the ceiling.
 The can-opener causing the cans to disappear.
 The ability to meet a tight deadline.  The can-opener causing the cans to disappear.  The deluge of cans falling from the sky.  Viral interest in a new product.