Canarium luzonicum, commonly known as the Philippine almond tree or luzon almond, is a species of tree in the family Burseraceae. It is native to the Philippines and is notable for its hardwood, which is used in various applications, including furniture and construction. The tree produces edible nuts that are often consumed locally and valued for their nutritional content. Canarium luzonicum grows in tropical climates and is associated with forests, often found at low to moderate elevations.
Canada balsam is a naturally occurring resin obtained from the balsam fir tree (Abies balsamea), which is native to Canada and the northeastern United States. This resin is a viscous liquid that hardens into a clear, amber-like substance upon exposure to air.
Boswellia serrata, commonly known as Indian frankincense, is a flowering plant species belonging to the family Burseraceae. It is native to India, the Middle East, and North Africa. The tree produces a resin that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurvedic practices, for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and healing properties.
Benzoin is a resin obtained from the bark of trees belonging to the Styrax genus, particularly Styrax benzoin. The resin has a long history of use in traditional medicine, incense, and as a fixative in perfumery due to its aromatic properties. Benzoin contains compounds such as benzoic acid, and it emits a sweet, vanilla-like fragrance when burned.
Bdellium is a gum resin that is obtained from certain trees in the genus Commiphora, which are part of the Burseraceae family. The term "bdellium" is sometimes used to refer to a resin similar to myrrh. Historically, bdellium has been mentioned in ancient texts, including the Bible, where it is described as a valuable substance. The resin has been used for various purposes, including as an ingredient in perfumes, incense, and traditional medicine.
Balsam of Peru is a natural resin derived from the tree known scientifically as *Myroxylon balsamum*, which is native to Central America and parts of South America, particularly in countries like Guatemala and El Salvador. The resin is often harvested from the trunk of the tree and has a rich, warm scent that is used in various applications.
The term "balsam" can refer to several things, primarily in the context of botany, medicine, and products derived from certain trees. Here are some of the most common uses of the term: 1. **Botanical Context**: Balsam refers to various types of trees and shrubs, particularly those that produce a fragrant resin or balsam. Examples include balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and various species of the genus Commiphora, which produce myrrh.
Balm of Gilead, often referenced in historical, medicinal, and biblical contexts, typically refers to a healing substance derived from the resin of certain plants. The term is closely associated with the biblical region of Gilead, which was known for its medicinal plants. In ancient times, Balm of Gilead was used as a remedy for various ailments, and it is mentioned in the Bible, notably in the book of Jeremiah, as a symbol of healing and comfort.
Austrian resin extraction typically refers to the method of collecting resin from pine trees, particularly from the species that thrive in Austria and surrounding regions. This practice has historical significance, especially in the context of producing turpentine and rosin, which have various industrial and medicinal applications. The extraction process generally involves: 1. **Tapping**: Making incisions in the bark of the pine trees to access the resin. These incisions allow the resin to flow out and collect in containers.
Astragalus sarcocolla is a species of plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is a member of the genus Astragalus, which includes a large number of species commonly known as milkvetches. Astragalus species are often characterized by their distinctive flowers and growth habits, and they can be found in various habitats around the world.
Asafoetida, also known as "hing," is a potent spice derived from the resin of the Ferula plant, mainly Ferula assa-foetida. It is native to the regions of Iran and Afghanistan and is widely used in Indian cuisine, particularly in vegetarian dishes, due to its strong flavor and aroma. The spice has a pungent, garlic-like smell when raw, but it becomes mellow and flavorful when cooked.
Apiol, also known as parsley seed oil or 4-allyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene, is a chemical compound primarily derived from the seeds of plants in the Apiaceae family, particularly from parsley (Petroselinum crispum). It is known for its strong aroma and is often used in traditional herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and as a flavoring agent in food products.
Ammoniacum, also known as ammoniac, is a natural gum resin that is harvested from the sap of specific species of plants, particularly those in the genus *Ferula*, which belong to the umbellifer family. The most commonly used species for this purpose is *Ferula assa-foetida*, also known as asafetida or devil's dung. Ammoniacum is typically found in regions like Persia and Afghanistan.
Agarwood, also known as Oud or Aoud, is a highly valued and fragrant wood that is derived from the Aquilaria tree, particularly from species such as Aquilaria malaccensis. When the tree gets infected with a specific type of mold (Fusarium species), it responds by producing a dark, aromatic resin as a defense mechanism. This resin is what gives agarwood its distinctive scent and makes it so sought after.
Resin sculptures are artworks created using synthetic resin, a versatile material that can be molded, cast, and manipulated in various ways. Resin is typically composed of a combination of polymers that can be formulated to achieve different properties, allowing artists to create intricate designs, vibrant colors, and unique finishes.
Natural gums are complex polysaccharides derived from plants, trees, or certain microorganisms. They are primarily composed of sugars and can be found in various parts of plants, including the exudates from tree bark, the seeds, and the cells of some marine algae. Natural gums have a wide range of applications in various industries due to their thickening, gelling, stabilizing, and emulsifying properties.
Fossil resins, commonly known as amber, are natural polymers that have undergone fossilization over millions of years. They originate from the resin secreted by various trees, particularly coniferous species, which is a sticky substance produced as a defense mechanism against pests or disease. Over time, the resin can become buried under sediment, and through processes such as heat and pressure, it hardens and transforms into a solid material.
Tran Dai Nghia (HQ-888) is a Vietnamese naval ship that serves as a guided missile corvette in the Vietnam People's Navy. It is part of the Vietnamese defense strategy aimed at enhancing maritime capabilities and securing the country's territorial waters. The ship is named after Tran Dai Nghia, a prominent figure in Vietnam's history.
The S.A. Agulhas II is a South African polar research vessel that is primarily used for scientific research in polar and subpolar regions, including the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Launched in 2012, it is named after the Agulhas Current, which flows along the southeastern coast of Africa. The vessel is equipped with advanced research facilities and technology, allowing scientists to conduct a variety of studies, including oceanography, climate change, marine biology, and environmental monitoring.
The S. A. Agulhas is a South African polar research vessel that was primarily used for scientific research in the Southern Ocean, particularly around Antarctica. The ship has played a significant role in various research missions, supporting studies in oceanography, biodiversity, and climate change, as well as providing logistical support for scientific expeditions to Antarctica.

Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project

Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
We have two killer features:
  1. topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculus
    Articles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
    • a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
    • a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
    This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.
    Figure 1.
    Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page
    . View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivative
  2. local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:
    This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
    Figure 2.
    You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either https://OurBigBook.com or as a static website
    .
    Figure 3.
    Visual Studio Code extension installation
    .
    Figure 4.
    Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation
    .
    Figure 5.
    Web editor
    . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.
    Video 3.
    Edit locally and publish demo
    . Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.
    Video 4.
    OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo
    . Source.
  3. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook-media/master/feature/x/hilbert-space-arrow.png
  4. Infinitely deep tables of contents:
    Figure 6.
    Dynamic article tree with infinitely deep table of contents
    .
    Descendant pages can also show up as toplevel e.g.: ourbigbook.com/cirosantilli/chordate-subclade
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact