Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas
—
2026 —
WHE3B2FFED54C
A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the church designed by Carlos Raúl Villanueva for Caracas' urban development sector '23 de Enero' embodies a double synthesis: it symbolizes the union of God and man through an architectural 'arrow,' while also serving as a guiding metaphor for church design. This insight is derived from Villanueva's conceptual framework, documented in his 'Notas docentes.' The study examines the church's ascending form, characterized by converging walls and a skylight-crowned apex, which creates a sensory experience from the atrium to the presbytery. Despite renovations, the building retains its original expressionistic character, reflecting its historical significance within the UNESCO-listed Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas.
Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia
—
2026 —
WHEB964197BEE
A diachronic reconstruction of the Upper Adriatic and Aquileia territory reveals the dynamic co-evolutionary interaction between settlement systems and the lagoon environment, providing a methodological foundation for future cultural heritage projects. This study employs multidisciplinary methods of global landscape archaeology to analyze stratigraphic data across the entire geographical area, highlighting transformative and continuity phases over an extended period. The findings aim to integrate Aquileia's urban archaeological heritage with its surrounding lagoon territory, offering a narrative that contextualizes fragmentary traces within a broader territorial discourse. This approach supports the future development of territories and communities through the construction of new landscapes.
Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa
—
2026 —
WHE7AD0988264
Arequipa's historic center faces a growing tension between cultural identity preservation and economic development pressures. This study reveals that while tourism offers economic opportunities, it also poses risks to authenticity, highlighting the need for balanced heritage policies. Through qualitative interviews with 31 stakeholders, researchers identified divergent perceptions of authenticity and the potential of participatory strategies, advanced technologies, and multisectoral governance to mitigate these risks. The findings integrate preservation and adaptive conservation approaches, providing a framework for more inclusive and sustainable heritage management that harmonizes identity safeguarding with economic growth.
Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci
—
2026 —
WHEEC33925F59
A comprehensive laboratory analysis reveals the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of Saltrio stone, a sedimentary arenaceous limestone historically used in Northern Italy's architectural heritage, including the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This study provides critical data for heritage conservation, addressing a significant gap in existing literature. The research employs a systematic test campaign to assess the stone's structural capacity, offering insights that are essential for preservation interventions and experimental tests on full-scale historical buildings. These findings support more accurate predictions and inform strategies for maintaining cultural assets like Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' mural.
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore
—
2026 —
WHEB2D6D6ED37
Lahore Fort, a living chronicle of empires and cultures, stands as a powerful symbol of Pakistan's national identity and cultural heritage. Strategically built by Emperor Akbar in the late 1500s, this monument reflects the architectural evolution and historical layers of the Mughal era, Sikh Empire, and colonial period. The study reveals how selective preservation policies have shaped its representation, linking it to religious and historical identity. Using a descriptive, analytical, and qualitative approach, the research examines the impact of government ideologies on cultural heritage, highlighting Lahore Fort's enduring significance as an emblem of Pakistan's past.
Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
—
2026 —
WHE62F07C6043
A proposed residential development near All Saints Park and St Ann's Chapel in Calstock, Cornwall, is unlikely to cause substantial harm to nearby heritage assets. The study, conducted by South West Archaeology Ltd., found that the development would have a negligible adverse effect on Grade II Listed Salters Farmhouse and non-designated Hingston Down, aligning with 'Less than Substantial Harm' criteria. Modern housing developments in the vicinity provide screening, reducing visual impact. Desk-based research and archaeological trenching suggested minimal risk of significant archaeological findings. The report recommends adhering to local design guidance and using vernacular materials sensitive to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park
—
2026 —
WHEF52E212ADE
A shift towards participatory governance in managing the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) is crucial for balancing conservation efforts with the land rights of indigenous Pygmy peoples. Current exclusionary practices have led to social marginalization and a lack of community interest in conservation, despite legal provisions guaranteeing local use rights. The study, conducted through documentation, focus groups, and interviews, highlights that integrating customary and traditional rights into park management could foster sustainable coexistence. While co-management principles are theoretically promoted, practical implementation remains elusive without concrete agreements with indigenous communities. Ensuring dignified survival for riparian populations requires legal and customary pluralism, addressing inequitable access to social services and securing forest resource access.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
—
2026 —
WHEFC92908B6C
Land suitability mapping reveals significant spatial variation in the potential habitats for six illegally harvested plant species in Uganda, with highly suitable areas concentrated in the western and southwestern highlands of the Albertine Rift. This study used a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) framework combined with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to integrate climatic variables, soil properties, topography, and land-use data, generating species-specific suitability maps. While montane species like Prunus africana and Arundinaria alpina showed restricted suitability in cooler, wetter highlands, adaptable species such as Albizia coriaria and Albizia gummifera exhibited broader distribution patterns. The findings highlight the potential for ex-situ conservation and ecological restoration outside protected areas, offering spatially explicit guidance to mitigate pressure on in-situ populations and promote sustainable management of valuable plant resources.
Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley
—
2026 —
WHE0DD7E2BD98
A significant increase in built-up areas, from 3.6% to 10.5%, has been detected within the 1 km heritage buffer of the Lenggong Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site between 2000 and 2020, with projections suggesting this trend will continue, reaching 13.2% by 2040. This study utilized an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) combined with Cellular Automata (CA) modeling to analyze historical land use changes and predict future patterns in the Lenggong catchment. The model demonstrated high accuracy, achieving an overall Kappa value of 0.71 and validation accuracy of 83.1%. While forest and agriculture remained dominant land uses, the study highlighted a concerning decrease in forest cover (from 58.9% to 54.4%) and an increase in built-up areas, posing potential threats to the heritage landscape's authenticity and environmental quality. These findings underscore the need for proactive heritage-sensitive planning and conservation strategies to mitigate development pressures.
Lake Baikal
—
2026 —
WHEC7D01ACE9E
A comprehensive landscape and ecological analysis of 45 protected areas in Baikal Siberia reveals significant gaps in biodiversity conservation, particularly in forest-steppe and steppe regions. While 68.8% of these areas are concentrated in the Russian part of the Baikal Lake basin, with a mix of Nature Reserves (11.1%), National Parks (6.7%), and Wildlife Reserves (51.1%), only 8.9% are located in Mongolia. The study highlights an uneven distribution of protected territories, with critical ecosystems like mountain-taiga and forest-steppe landscapes underrepresented outside high-altitude belts around Baikal Lake. It underscores the urgent need to expand the network of protected areas to include ecotonic zones and heterogeneous landscapes, as proposed for the 'Selenginskaya Dauria' Steppe Reserve. This approach is essential for preserving the ecological diversity of Baikal Siberia, aligning with federal development plans.
Wachau Cultural Landscape
—
2026 —
WHE2C5110E2CF
A multi-scalar landscape design approach reveals that strategic design changes at the river-road interface can effectively address multiple functional and visual needs, even in dynamic flood-prone environments. The study focuses on Wachau road, a renowned example of integrated landscape-infrastructure design, using spatial analysis, historical analysis, and site observations to synthesize findings into a typology of spatial situations. This research demonstrates how understanding the interplay between dynamic processes, design aspects, and spatial qualities can guide future road planning in similar contexts.
Sagarmatha National Park
—
2026 —
WHEB3DB3E50CB
A critical assessment of landslide risk in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, reveals that glacier tourism infrastructure—including trekking routes, helipads, and campsites—faces significant exposure to landslides despite low direct intersection with active scars. Land Surface Temperature (LST) emerged as the dominant factor influencing landslide occurrence, followed by rainfall, elevation, slope, and specific land cover types like barren land and alpine meadows. Using advanced models—Random Forest (91% accuracy), Logistic Regression (87%), and Frequency Ratio (84%)—the study highlights that while only 0.52% of trekking routes directly overlap with active landslides, a substantial 28% lie within high-exposure zones. This underscores the vulnerability of glacier tourism destinations to both typical and paraglacial landslides, posing serious implications for Nepal’s tourism sector.
Pirin National Park
—
2026 —
WHE7AA56E0855
Large avalanches in forested terrain occur more frequently and with greater magnitude in the Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria, than previously understood. Analysis of over 700 tree-ring cores reveals that these events have struck almost every decade, with widespread occurrences during the mid-20th century. Despite a perceived reduction in frequency in recent decades, deadly avalanches still pose significant risk, as demonstrated by the 2015 event near Yavorov Chalet. Numerical simulations using RAMMS::EXTENDED indicate that such avalanches could match the scale of historical damage, with parameters aligned to 100-year return period dry snow avalanches. This challenges the assumption that forested areas are inherently safer, underscoring the need for better risk assessment and protection strategies in regions like Pirin National Park, where tourism and endemic forests intersect.
City of Valletta
—
2026 —
WHECCC55AADF1
A groundbreaking method for large-scale photogrammetric documentation of complex Baroque architecture, exemplified by St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta (Malta), has been developed. This approach overcomes challenges posed by reflective metallic surfaces, dark materials, and intricate tapestries through a multi-modal data acquisition strategy involving DSLR cameras, drone photography, and LIDAR scanning, capturing 99,000 images over seven nights. The resulting 3D reconstruction, comprising 25-30 billion triangles, combines automated workflows with manual intervention to ensure accuracy. Innovative techniques such as AI-assisted denoising and Gaussian splatting were employed to address low-light conditions and enhance visualization. This methodology sets a new standard for cultural heritage preservation, enabling comprehensive digital archives that support disaster recovery, conservation analysis, virtual tourism, and scholarly research.
Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil)
—
2026 —
WHEB7135BABD0
A comprehensive visual documentation of the Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis reveals the architectural and cultural heritage preserved over 340 years. The publication 'Las Misiones Jesuisticas' captures the essence of San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto, Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), and the Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) through vivid color photography by Maximilien Bruggmann. This work, part of the broader project 'Los heraldos negros,' combines historical text by Padre José Marx with striking imagery to illuminate the significance of these missions as symbols of Guaraní-Jesuit collaboration and cultural exchange during the colonial era.
Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi
—
2026 —
WHEF5F922D17E
A new taxonomic description of the sweat bee species Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) glabriventre reveals distinctive morphological traits that differentiate it from similar species, such as its enlarged, broadly punctate tegula and smooth, distinctly punctate mesepisternum. The study provides a comprehensive diagnosis based on type material and additional specimens collected across Canada and the United States, including notable records from Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Alberta, Canada. The research clarifies taxonomic confusion by reassigning the species to the genus Lasioglossum and offers insights into its geographical distribution, contributing to the understanding of bee biodiversity in North America.
Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi
—
2026 —
WHE417B158EAE
A new taxonomic revision identifies Lasioglossum ruficorne as the senior synonym for two previously recognized species, Halictus vaporellus and Halictus pulveris, consolidating them under a single species. The study clarifies the distribution and morphological characteristics of this sweat bee, with type material examined from Nevada and Colorado, including lectotypes and syntypes. Additional specimens were collected across Canada (Alberta, British Columbia), Mexico (Baja California, Sonora), and the United States (Arizona), expanding known records. The research highlights the importance of revisiting historical collections to resolve taxonomic ambiguities, providing a foundation for future ecological studies on this species.
Macquarie Island
—
2026 —
WHE4E9F876B6C
A detailed reconstruction of Southern Hemisphere Westerlies (SHW) variability over the last 2500 years on Macquarie Island reveals periods of strengthened and weakened westerly winds, linked to changes in sea spray-driven lake conductivity. The study found that stronger SHW occurred around ~2500–2300 cal. yr BP and after ~800 cal. yr BP, while weaker SHW prevailed between ~2300–800 cal. yr BP. These findings were derived from palaeoecological analysis of halophilic and halophobic diatoms preserved in lake sediments, which correlate with water conductivity gradients influenced by westerly winds. The study provides a critical long-term record of SHW behavior, offering insights into past atmospheric CO2 concentrations and Southern Hemisphere climate dynamics.
Historic Site of Lyon
—
2026 —
WHEA41E60E9FC
The piétonnisation of streets in Vieux-Lyon during the late 1970s, while primarily aimed at enhancing architectural heritage, inadvertently marginalized the street paving—a key element of urban patrimony. This study reveals how the reimagining of central streets as 'period' thoroughfares, though intended to serve the built environment, failed to recognize or preserve local paving traditions, which were later replaced by standardized designs. The research highlights a selective approach to patrimonialization, where street features were subsumed under the prioritization of architectural integrity, leading to the erasure of distinct Lyonese paving practices by the 1980s.
Djémila
—
2026 —
WHEF8C51DB10C
A deep connection between archaeologist Yvonne Allais and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Djémila is revealed, illustrating how her prolonged engagement with the site led to a profound identification with its Roman-era past. This study highlights the significance of personal immersion in archaeological research, showcasing Allais' contributions through her extensive work at Cuicul (Djémila) from 1925 onwards. Her life and career exemplify the symbiotic relationship between researchers and historical sites, offering insights into the emotional and intellectual dimensions of archaeological exploration.
Plantin-Moretus House-Workshops-Museum Complex
—
2026 —
WHE8C8A473A72
A groundbreaking study reveals that the succession of leadership at the seventeenth-century Plantin Press in Antwerp was shaped by experiential knowledge transfer within the family, rather than traditional guild-regulated apprenticeships. By analyzing the rich Plantin-Moretus Archives, researchers traced the multifaceted training of Balthasar Moretus III, which combined formal education with workplace learning. This included observational duties in the printing workshop and progressive responsibilities in correspondence, accounting, wage administration, and cash management. The study also highlights how social refinement was strategically integrated with business training to prepare heirs for leadership in an internationally oriented book trade.
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
—
2026 —
WHED278588003
Peru's shift from judicial to diplomatic-administrative mechanisms for cultural property restitution, exemplified by the Machu Picchu collection dispute with Yale University, highlights that international protective status alone does not ensure effective safeguarding without robust national frameworks. The study analyzes Peru's legal evolution, tracing key legislation from 1929 to 2004 and applying Massimo Severo Giannini's theory of split ownership to demonstrate the separation between physical possession and cultural value title. Using Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as a case study, it underscores the necessity for differentiated national mechanisms to complement international conventions like the 1970 UNESCO and 1995 UNIDROIT agreements.
Rideau Canal
—
2026 —
WHED26B61C15C
Leisure activities, including group walks along the Rideau Canal, Classical Persian dance workshops, and visits to the National Gallery of Canada, significantly contributed to the well-being and sense of belonging among Iranian immigrant women aged 30–55 in Ottawa. These activities provided emotional relief, opportunities for social connection, and a comfortable setting due to shared language and migration experiences. While participants rated the activities positively for enjoyment, accessibility, and social contact, sustained participation was influenced by factors such as time pressure, caregiving demands, weather, transportation, cost, and access to clear information. The study highlights the importance of leisure in promoting well-being beyond formal health and settlement services.
Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci
—
2026 —
WHED4B3DBD0F4
Leonardo da Vinci's <em>The Last Supper</em> (1494–98) in the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie employs a sophisticated, modular geometric system that harmonizes depth, width, and height with unprecedented precision. The study reveals that Leonardo structured the space using a unitary module 'n,' where depth and height equal 66n and width 88n, creating a 4:3 ratio between dimensions. This system, verified through CAD analysis, eliminates progressive deformations observed in prior studies (e.g., Landrus, 2007) by rejecting the assumption of a square-based perspective grid. Instead, it demonstrates a dynamic interplay of rhythms—1:4:1 for the coffered ceiling and 2:1:2 for lateral walls—while maintaining symmetry around Christ's axis. The diagonal serves as both a perspectival vector toward Christ and a compositional element, showcasing Leonardo's economy of means and layered spatial logic. This research extends the author's prior work on Leonardo's rhythmic grammar, offering a cohesive framework to reinterpret his use of geometry in art.
Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci
—
2026 —
WHE453032B7C9
Leonardo da Vinci's <em>The Last Supper</em> (1494–98) in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is revealed to follow a sophisticated, harmonized geometric system that challenges traditional assumptions about its construction. The study demonstrates that Leonardo structured the space using a modular unit 'n', with ratios 1:4:1 for the ceiling and 2:1:2 for the lateral walls, creating a symmetric, bilaterally balanced composition centered on Christ. Unlike prior analyses suggesting a square-based grid leading to distortions, this research shows these deformations arise from methodological assumptions rather than Leonardo's design. Verified through CAD analysis, the system avoids perspective acceleration, instead using a single diagonal as both a spatial vector and a focal point toward Christ. The findings suggest Leonardo anticipated geometric solids later illustrated with Luca Pacioli, highlighting his integration of mathematical precision and artistic innovation.
Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci
—
2026 —
WHE0650716D0E
A groundbreaking analysis deconstructs the myth of Leonardo da Vinci's rigid adherence to Albertian square-based perspective, revealing instead a dynamic, metric-modular spatial grammar that evolves across his works. Through three-dimensional CAD reverse-engineering and geometric analysis of 'The Annunciation,' 'Adoration of the Magi,' and 'The Last Supper,' researchers demonstrate how Leonardo developed a system of 'inserted rulers'—a rhythmic, stereometric architecture rooted in human measurements. This approach rejects esoteric interpretations, showing that spatial proportions (e.g., 4:3 module, 1:4:1 and 2:1:2 polyphonic rhythms) are directly derivable from the artwork itself, yielding spaces that are not only measurable but architecturally reconstructible. The study underscores Leonardo's innovative integration of perspective, narrative, and human-scale design, redefining his spatial syntax as a projective, adaptive system.
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
—
2026 —
WHE8179C1FA1F
Leopards in Sri Lanka's Central Highlands, despite being generalist and opportunistic predators, show nuanced predation patterns that favor wild prey over domestic species, even in heavily agricultural landscapes. A study analyzing 107 leopard scat samples revealed that while small prey like the black-naped hare were most frequently consumed, medium-sized barking deer and large sambar deer contributed significantly to biomass intake, indicating selective foraging behavior. Domestic dogs, contrary to local perceptions, were moderately avoided, suggesting a positive outcome for human-leopard coexistence. Wild species constituted over 85% of the diet, highlighting the resilience of natural prey bases in anthropogenically transformed environments. The research underscores the importance of preserving wild prey abundance and diversity to facilitate coexistence between leopards and humans.
Historic Centre of Prague
—
2026 —
WHEF8184B7ECF
Site-specific performances can redefine public spaces by introducing unpredictability and spontaneity, fostering authentic encounters with passers-by. This study examines three such performances—<em>Breakfast on London Bridge</em> (2014), <em>Women in Agony</em> (2015), and <em>IN QR WE TRUST</em> (2023)—to explore how randomness challenges routine urban experiences and creates a new public sphere. The research questions whether site-sensitive approaches can reveal the poetics of places while incorporating lived experiences, ultimately offering a model for reinventing public spaces through artistic intervention. The findings suggest that injecting randomness into performance art disrupts urban alienation and consumerism, revealing spontaneous reactions that enrich collective experience.
Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour, Curaçao
—
2026 —
WHEEFEE98F863
Temporary cultural events, such as street festivals, can drive lasting urban revitalization in historic neighborhoods, even when their immediate impacts are often overlooked. A qualitative study of the Kaya Kaya festival in Otrobanda, Curaçaoreveals how such initiatives temporarily repurpose vacant properties and public spaces to foster artistic appeal, economic activity, and community engagement. Through interviews and urban planning theories, researchers demonstrate that these events generate long-term social, economic, and physical benefits, challenging the assumption that their effects are fleeting. The case highlights strategic opportunities for policymakers, developers, and investors to leverage short-term cultural interventions as catalysts for sustainable neighborhood transformation.
Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol
—
2026 —
WHECB35661EC1
A significant finding from this study is that ecological and socio-cultural factors play the most pivotal roles in sustaining UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly those in Pakistan. The research leverages artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms to analyze tourist satisfaction data collected from 417 national tourists across six heritage sites, including the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Sahr-i-Bahlol. Using a five-point Likert scale, the study identifies that while ecological perspectives are most influential in achieving sustainability, socio-cultural factors also have a notable positive impact. Economic factors, however, were found to be the least influential. This data-driven analysis offers valuable insights for policymakers, providing a foundation for economic modeling, preservation strategies, marketing, and policy implementation aimed at enhancing sustainable heritage conservation.
Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur
—
2026 —
WHE21EC4C39E4
A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the monumental landscapes of Giza, Saqqara, and Dahschur in ancient Egypt form a fractal, systemically planned network with astronomical precision. The study identifies three functional modules: solar dynamics validating horizon channels as astronomical vectors, geodetic statics aligning sightlines to the circumpolar center of the ancient sky, and a proportional length matrix following a near-perfect 1:2 scaling law along the geodetic meridian. A Monte-Carlo permutation test (N=10,000) confirms that this axis configuration is statistically non-random (p ≈ 0), supporting a systemic planning principle underlying the Old Kingdom's monumental landscape. This research integrates geodetic precision, astronomical cycles, and fractal proportionality into a coherent space-time model, advancing archaeoastronomical understanding without relying on explicit formulas.
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
—
2026 —
WHE70F2CB4394
High-resolution LiDAR-derived Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) have revolutionized archaeological analysis, enabling the detection of previously undetectable sites due to their small size or deterioration. This study demonstrates their potential in identifying a diverse array of archaeological sites across the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in Victoria, Australia. By focusing on advanced DEM analysis and visualization, the research highlights the importance of machine learning techniques, particularly when validated by Gunditjmara Traditional Owners and staff from the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (GMTOAC). The study underscores how these methodologies can reveal broad spatial distributions, functional relationships, and patterns of landscape use by past populations over time.
Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad
—
2026 —
WHE34BD3F8C7B
A systematic approach to lighting design for the renovation of Krasnogorsky Square, adjacent to the UNESCO-listed Trinity Sergius Lavra, demonstrates how spatial elements, lighting technologies, and socio-cultural factors can be integrated to preserve historical authenticity while enabling adaptive use. The proposed solution balances functional zoning, decorative lighting, and technical innovations, allowing the square to host diverse events—from religious ceremonies to secular gatherings—without compromising its museum-like environment. This project, rooted in a training initiative at Stroganov University, offers a scalable model for restoring historic urban spaces while meeting national cultural preservation goals.
Jongmyo Shrine
—
2026 —
WHEB97BF3F3E9
This study reveals that candles in Jongmyo Shrine's ancestral rites underwent a significant shift from being sacred offerings to becoming consumables, marking a transition in their symbolic and functional roles during the Joseon Dynasty and into the modern era. The research analyzes historical texts and records to trace the evolution of lighting devices, showing how candles were initially categorized based on wax composition and ritual significance, reflecting hierarchical and emotional aspects of the rites. By the late Joseon period, mixed-wax candles were phased out due to smoke and odor issues, replaced by lead-wax candles. Post-liberation, industrial-era lighting like oil lamps and electric bulbs took over, but candles persisted as ritual symbols, bridging tradition and modernity.
Nyungwe National Park
—
2026 —
WHE45F923F86B
Lightning-caused disturbances in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, exhibit significant variation in frequency and severity based on topography. Ridges experience six times more lightning strikes (19) compared to valleys (2), yet valley disturbances cause greater tree-level damage and a higher mortality rate among affected trees, though the latter was not statistically significant due to limited sample size. This pattern contrasts with findings from tropical American forests, where lightning typically results in higher tree mortality rates. The study also suggests taxonomic differences in lightning tolerance, particularly for ridge-dominant Syzygium spp., which showed less damage compared to the community average. These insights imply that lightning disturbance severity may decline with increased frequency and highlight potential species-specific adaptations to lightning stress.
Complex of Hué Monuments
—
2026 —
WHE8BC39CE0DC
A study on Hue City's UNESCO World Heritage Sites reveals that all five climatic factors—wind, rainfall, thermal conditions, extreme weather events, and humidity—positively and significantly influence green tourism growth. These findings underscore the importance of integrating climate information, seasonal planning, and adaptive strategies into sustainable tourism governance to mitigate climate change impacts. The research analyzed 174 tourist surveys collected from Bach Ma, Hue Imperial Citadel, and Chuon Lagoon–Thuan An over a year, using SPSS for statistical analysis, with the regression model explaining 35.3% of variance in green tourism growth.
Australian Convict Sites
—
2026 —
WHE700C32695C
A novel approach to managing UNESCO World Heritage Sites with deep colonial legacies, such as Australia's Coal Mines Historic Site, demonstrates that integrating social justice and climate justice is essential for effective conservation. The study, part of the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Place Lab initiative, reveals that addressing these interconnected issues fosters stronger collaboration between site managers and scholars, ultimately enhancing the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. By analyzing the Coal Mines Historic Site in Tasmania, researchers highlight the need for a holistic framework that balances historical narratives with contemporary environmental challenges to ensure sustainable heritage management.
Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca
—
2026 —
WHE4613220AEA
Residents of Chew Jetty, a historic clan settlement within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site, exhibit 'negotiated resilience' to counter commercial gentrification without erasing cultural heritage. This phenomenon challenges the notion that economic opportunism leads to cultural displacement, instead showing how communities adapt through spatial regulation and ritual bifurcation. The study highlights resident agency as crucial for sustainable heritage conservation, contrasting with traditional facade-oriented planning frameworks. Qualitative case studies, representing a significant majority of the population, reveal 'commercial gentrification from below,' driven by economic incentives but mitigated by community-led strategies to preserve intangible heritage.
Hoi An Ancient Town
—
2026 —
WHEC7A2C4F0BA
Hoi An Ancient Town demonstrates remarkable resilience to flooding through a proactive and holistic approach deeply rooted in transgenerational knowledge. Residents have adapted the town's layout and architecture to flooding, using flood marks on buildings as both symbolic reminders and indicators of potential future scenarios. This study reveals how adversity acceptance—understanding, acknowledging, and adapting to challenges—has shaped flood management practices, integrating modern technology like weather forecasts and social media while also incorporating floods into tourism experiences. The town's long history with flooding, exacerbated by climate change and urban development, underscores a unique blend of environmental adaptation and cultural sustainability.
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat
—
2026 —
WHE744617D9CB
A comparative analysis of Candi Borobudur and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan reveals distinct yet interconnected cultural heritage preservation principles. While both temples share Buddhist origins, their architectural forms—Borobudur's mandala-based structure influenced by Javanese cosmology and Indian philosophy, versus Thailand’s regional interpretations of Buddhist symbolism in Wat Phra Mahathat—reflect unique local adaptations shaped by acculturation and foreign influences. The study highlights how these differences challenge preservation efforts while underscoring their shared histories. By examining site plans, stupas, structural layouts, and Buddha statues' mudrā representations, the research offers insights into maintaining religious monuments' historical and cultural identities in Southeast Asia.
Venice and its Lagoon
—
2026 —
WHED20594F4C5
Under current greenhouse gas mitigation policies, Venice and its lagoon are likely to face hard limits within the 21st century due to sea-level rise (SLR). The study maps long-term adaptation pathways, revealing that the current strategy of mobile barriers and accommodation measures will become unsustainable. Alternative strategies, such as ring-dikes or permanent coastal dams, could preserve different combinations of environmental, heritage, and socio-cultural values but entail significant ecological and social transitions. Under extreme SLR scenarios, including potential Antarctic ice-sheet collapse, relocation of monuments or abandonment may become unavoidable by the 22nd century. Rapid mitigation could still prevent these drastic outcomes.
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
—
2026 —
WHE6F921E39A1
Historical logging and ongoing climate change continue to significantly impact the recovery of upland subtropical rainforests in southeast Queensland, part of Australia's Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Site. Despite over 50 years since logging cessation, these forests show persistent structural and compositional differences compared to intact plots, with logged areas exhibiting higher recruitment of pioneer species but greater sensitivity to warming temperatures and extreme weather events. The study, utilizing a rare long-term dataset spanning 1962–2015, found that while logged plots demonstrate faster diameter growth initially, this slows as basal area increases. Intact plots, conversely, show growth concentrated in larger, cloud-water-intercepting trees. These findings highlight the enduring legacy of logging and the need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate climate change impacts on these critical biodiversity refugia.
Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay
—
2026 —
WHE752AC6F9A4
A long-term evaluation of the Mont-Saint-Michel Bay Maritime Restoration Project reveals that engineering measures, such as embankment removal and managed retreat, have successfully enhanced erosion and deepening of tidal flats while maintaining ecological value. The study, using a 22-year LiDAR dataset, quantifies post-restoration topographic changes and sediment budgets, showing effective sediment export and spatial redistribution of salt marshes. However, discrepancies between model predictions and field observations highlight the challenges in forecasting long-term channel migration variability and adapting to evolving hydro-meteorological conditions. This research underscores the importance of adaptive management strategies for non-stationary tidal systems undergoing anthropogenic modifications and climate-driven environmental change.
Western Tien-Shan
—
2026 —
WHE112B560AC1
A long-term analysis of snow cover dynamics in the Arys River basin (Western Tien Shan) reveals significant interannual variability and a weak but notable decline in snow-covered area, averaging 0.37% per year between 2000–2024. The study, leveraging MODIS satellite data and validated against meteorological station records, found the most pronounced reductions at mid-elevation zones. These trends suggest growing risks to seasonal water availability, particularly under ongoing climate change, with implications for water resource management in Central Asia's Syr Darya basin.
Sceilg Mhichíl
—
2026 —
WHEBF4BD3C215
Early Christian monasticism, long idealized as self-sufficient and isolated, was found to be an open system deeply integrated with its environment. Research reveals a dual evolution: architectural forms transitioned from scattered dwellings to communal, multifunctional spaces, while productive systems shifted from household economies to territorial networks that outsourced labor. This study challenges the heroic narrative of monastic life by analyzing five case studies—Qumran, Kellia, the White Monastery, Kalat Siman, and Skellig Michael—using interdisciplinary methods including archaeology, paleoclimatology, and meteorology. It demonstrates that monasteries were dynamic entities, organized in federations or connected to other settlements, and adapted to climate and resource management, offering a more nuanced understanding of their historical role.
Henderson Island
—
2026 —
WHE8EF57F54A4
A study on Henderson Island reveals that plastic ingestion in Kermadec Petrels (Pterodroma neglecta) has remained consistent at low levels over more than 30 years, with only 23.1% of fledglings sampled in 2025 containing small quantities of microplastics (mean ± SD: 0.0113 ± 0.0061 g). This finding contrasts sharply with plastic ingestion rates in closely related species, suggesting that Kermadec Petrels may selectively avoid plastic or forage in areas with lower pollution densities. The research, conducted on uninhabited Henderson Island and Oeno Atoll, highlights the potential for these birds to serve as sentinels for pollution in remote South Pacific regions, offering valuable insights into species-specific vulnerability to marine debris.
Historic Town of Zabid
—
2026 —
WHE2521FFFCE1
A novel spatial decision-support framework for heritage-sensitive greening has been developed to mitigate surface heat stress in earthen historic cities, using Zabid, Yemenas a case study. The research reveals that the walled historic core of Zabid exhibits a recurrent daytime 'cool-core' phenomenon, with land surface temperatures (LST) 1.69 °C and 1.78 °C lower than surrounding areas on two hot-season dates in 2024. Overheating is concentrated on vegetation-deficient surfaces, with 98.40% of hotspots occurring in the least vegetated zones. The framework integrates LST, NDVI, wetness-risk screening, and earthen-fabric sensitivity to propose five intervention classes for targeted greening while minimizing moisture-related risks to heritage structures. This method offers a planning-level approach that requires field verification before implementation.
Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder)
—
2026 —
WHE5FC63AEA55
This study challenges the traditional static relationship between territory and sovereignty, revealing that sovereignty in the Dutch Republic was dynamic and fluid. It argues that the notion of territorial sovereignty, which emerged during the revolt against Spain, does not align with the sociopolitical framework of the newly established Republic. The research examines key events such as the Union of Utrecht, the Act of Abjuration, and the drainage of Lake Beemster, alongside celebratory depictions like the Siege of Leiden, to support this argument. By analyzing these moments, the study offers a nuanced understanding of how sovereignty was practiced and contested in Dutch history.
Lut Desert
—
2026 —
WHE9192DB271A
Researchers propose the concept of 'destination dupe' to address gaps in current theories of destination substitutability, where tourists consciously engage with fantasies that lack terrestrial equivalents. A 5-year study involving a professional team traversing over 700 km across the Lut Desert, accompanied by native guides and researchers as part of the 'Lut Desert Mars Hike Tour Package,' explored this phenomenon. The study used recorded GPS tracks to analyze terrestrial analogs of Martian phenomena, highlighting how destination dupe extends beyond traditional substitutability by incorporating elements that do not exist in reality.
Pirin National Park
—
2026 —
WHEF8A8F18357
Machine learning models can effectively classify avalanche terrain exposure with high accuracy, demonstrating robust generalization across mountain ranges. A study comparing two approaches for Pirin National Park, Bulgaria, found both models achieved over 86% pixel-based accuracy and correctly classified 92-94% of validation polygons. While challenging terrain classes remained difficult to predict, the results highlight the potential of automated methods for avalanche risk management in backcountry areas.
