Dear Dr. Nucleus,

What is the function of the little strip of material between the shoulder blades on the button-down shirts?

Curious


Dear Curious,

Illmailya Airheart, a noted seamstress and aviatrix, invented button-down shirts in 1916. The additional buttons on the collars were to keep the wind from blowing the collar around the face. Extra buttons were put on the sleeve to discourage wiping one's nose on them; thus, necessitating the concept of "blow dry".

These additional buttons caused some problems not originally anticipated by this plucky tailor. It was now almost impossible for some materials to dry thoroughly in the wind. This became a great irritation in foggy England during early morning flights. This disadvantage was overcome by attaching a wick, which extended from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. This was known as a "dew loop". Its function, then as now, is to help the shirt dry.

Dew loops ( or their American cousins "do loops" ) have remained in service ever since. Even though most pilots now fly from enclosed cockpits and Scientists prefer to remain at home, do loops are almost impossible to get out of. Novice pilots are wont to have their do loops cut after their first solo flight. These are left in their lockers and are termed "ground loops."

Thank you for asking,
Dr. Nucleus