Jared
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2006
- Messages
- 1,608
- Reaction score
- 4
I can understand the wood healing itself, but how does it disinfect itself?
Last I heard no one knew how it worked, just that bacteria left on wood died very quickly. It's some part of the tree's immune system that continues to work after it's dead (remember: most of a tree is "dead" when it's still standing). The theory is that it's some chemical, possibly tannin or oil. Personally I think it might have something to do with moisture transfer: the wood compartmentalizes liquid while it dries so there's nothing for the bacteria to sit in.