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When air moves around an object, it creates small turbulances behind it. A lot of experimentation has led to finding that teardrop shapes create less turbulances, which means they will be less affected by drag.

The end of an airfoil resembles a point, to help limit friction drag. Sweeping the wings back and away from the plane will reduce drag. That's also why they bend the ends of the wings up in winglets, to decrese vortex drag.