Short answers, pulled from the story.
Wood is approximately 50 percent carbon, 42 percent oxygen, 6 percent hydrogen, 1 percent nitrogen, and 1 percent other elements by weight. It consists of three main components: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which are interwoven to form a natural composite material.
The earliest known plants to have grown wood appeared approximately 395 to 400 million years ago in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. This biological innovation marked the beginning of a structural tissue that would eventually support the construction of human civilization.
The U.S. Forest Service determined that hickory with from 5 to 14 rings per inch possesses the greatest shock-resisting ability. This specific density makes hickory ideal for tool handles and spokes.
In 2023, around half of the harvested wood was used for fuel, either directly as fuelwood or in the production of charcoal and pellets. The dominant uses for the remaining portion were for furniture and building construction.
Earlywood or springwood is formed early in the growing season when growth is rapid and is usually composed of wider elements that are lighter in color. Latewood or summerwood is formed later in the season, is denser, and is darker than the earlywood.
Heartwood or duramen is wood that has become more resistant to decay through a naturally occurring chemical transformation. Unlike sapwood, heartwood is not vital to the tree's life, as evidenced by the fact that a tree can thrive with its heart completely decayed.