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Walkability as a Catalyst for More Sustainable Mobility Patterns and Urban Rehabilitation in Rome

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura — 2025 — WHE956AAF9011

Urban regeneration efforts in Rome demonstrate that walkability can significantly increase over time, particularly in districts undergoing targeted rehabilitation. A composite index methodology combining 12 indicators—ranging from urban functions and use to safety, urbanity, and attractiveness—was developed to quantify walkability on a 0 to 1 scale. Applied across three distinct Roman districts with varying characteristics, this approach revealed that areas with enhanced social activities, landmarks, and pedestrian appeal saw measurable improvements in walkability scores. The study underscores the potential of walkability as a catalyst for sustainable mobility patterns, even in car-centric environments, while addressing methodological challenges in assessing such factors in less attractive urban settings.

Waloryzacja i ocena potencjału turystyczno-kulturowego odcinka szlaku Romea Strata w woj. małopolskim

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park — 2025 — WHE88DB452392

A segment of the international pilgrimage and cultural trail Romea Strata, spanning from Strzegowa to Groń Jana Pawła II near Wadowice in Małopolska, Poland, has been identified as a high-potential tourist and cultural route with a score of 741 points. This assessment, conducted using Armin Mikos von Rohrscheidt's point-based bonitation method, highlights the trail's strong appeal, coordination, and infrastructure while also revealing areas needing improvement. Researchers from the 'European Cultural Trails: Space and History' team evaluated the route's organization, thematic focus (centered around Sts. Peter, Paul, and John Paul II), tourist attractiveness, accessibility, and service quality between May 2023 and September 2024. The study combines cartographic, descriptive-analytical, and dynamic-comparative methods to provide actionable insights for future development.

Warm season escape to deep: habitat range and seasonal movement of sand tiger shark Carcharias taurus in Ogasawara Archipelago, Japan

Ogasawara Islands — 2025 — WHED78C5B5469

Sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus) in the Ogasawara Archipelago exhibit a unique vertical migration strategy, avoiding warm-season surface temperatures by diving to depths of up to 206 meters. Unlike their counterparts in Australia or the USA, which undertake long-distance horizontal migrations, these sharks exploit temperature stratification in the water column, remaining year-round residents of the region's continental shelf (30–200 m). Acoustic tracking and archival tagging revealed significantly higher detections in cooler months, with deeper habitat use during warmer periods. This study highlights an adaptive behavioral strategy tailored to the insular oceanic conditions of the Ogasawara Islands.

Water quality of submarine caves and marine karst lakes in Cat Ba Archipelago (Hai Phong, Vietnam)

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago — 2025 — WHEDEBFF87D00

Submarine caves and marine karst lakes in Vietnam's Cat Ba Archipelago exhibit distinct water quality characteristics, with caves showing higher and more stable salinity but lower dissolved oxygen levels compared to lakes. Research conducted in 2019 revealed that water self-purification improves during the rainy season, though pollution by ammonium was detected in several lakes (Ang Vem, Ba Man, Ba Mat, Ang Gay) during this period. While no evidence of organic contamination was found, elevated nitrate and phosphate concentrations were recorded, along with the presence of H2S gas, which may impact aquatic organisms. The study highlights seasonal variations in water quality, emphasizing the need for monitoring to preserve these unique ecosystems within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wayfinding Signage in Jeddah Historic Site (Al-Balad): A Comprehensive Study into its Ability to Reflect Historical and Cultural Values

Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah — 2025 — WHE537FC32752

Despite significant efforts by authorities, current wayfinding signage in Jeddah's historic district (Al-Balad) fails to fully reflect the region's cultural and historical identity. A comprehensive study analyzing six key directional sign elements reveals a lack of visual cohesion that hinders both heritage preservation and visitor experience. The research suggests implementing a unified, durable design system that integrates traditional aesthetics with modern wayfinding principles—enhancing cultural representation while ensuring long-term functionality. This approach could transform Al-Balad into a more intuitive and culturally resonant destination for tourists.

Weather in Surtsey 2020-2024

Surtsey — 2025 — WHEF0E7D1B7B1

A new maximum air temperature record of 22.6°C was set on Surtsey, Iceland's southernmost island, on 14 July 2025, breaking the previous record of 18.6°C from 11 July 2023. This study analyzes weather data from 2020 to 2024, highlighting significant variations, including a notably cloudy and cool summer in 2022 and a winter (2022–2023) marked by alternating warm/windy and cold/calm months. The research also identified extreme sea level pressure records of 1050.4 hPa and 932.3 hPa on 28 March 2020 and 15 February 2020, respectively. While temperature and wind data were robust, precipitation measurements faced considerable failures. The study aims to provide insights useful for understanding ecological processes on the island, which serves as a scientific laboratory for flora and fauna development.

Were Qing Ports Mere Gateways or Agents of Globalization? Silver, Coolies, and the Sino-Latin America Connection

Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement — 2025 — WHEC4FBBF78BB

Qing dynasty port cities, particularly Xiamen and Kulangsu, were not merely passive gateways but active agents in early globalization, shaping transoceanic exchanges between China and Latin America. This study reveals that these ports facilitated the influx of Spanish American silver in the late 17th and 18th centuries and later became central to the export of Chinese indentured laborers ('coolies') to Cuba and Peru during the mid-19th century. By comparing Xiamen and Kulangsu with other coastal hubs like Guangzhou and Macao, researchers demonstrate how these cities integrated overseas silver into local economies and adapted to global transformations despite imperial constraints and unequal treaties. The findings highlight the agency of local actors—officials, merchants, and intermediaries—in negotiating these exchanges, offering a nuanced perspective on China's role in early globalization.

What factors are related to environmental knowledge concerning the Wadden Sea ecosystem?

Wadden Sea — 2025 — WHE58A18DD76F

A strong link exists between students' connectedness with nature and their environmental knowledge of the Wadden Sea. Subject interest in biology also significantly influences this knowledge. While school-based experiences contribute to learning, informal out-of-school activities show an even stronger correlation with environmental understanding, highlighting the potential of non-formal education. Local proximity to the Wadden Sea has minimal impact on knowledge levels. The study surveyed 251 secondary school students (average age 15.5 years) using a validated diagnostic tool, measuring factors like nature connectedness, subject interest, and varied experiences with the ecosystem.

When language shapes landscape: quantifying tourism image discrepancy of Macao historic centre through bilingual lens

Historic Centre of Macao — 2025 — WHEC12C1E296B

Language significantly influences the perception and projection of tourism images in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as demonstrated by a study on Macao Historic Centre. The research reveals that while official projections in English emphasize 'Social Function' and 'Cultural Value,' Chinese projections focus more on 'Architectural Features' and 'Basic Information.' Tourists' perceptions also vary: English-speaking tourists prioritize 'Cultural Value' and 'Tourism Value,' whereas Chinese tourists value 'Architectural Features' and 'Historical Value.' Notably, the consistency between official projections and tourist perceptions is higher in the Chinese context but more pronouncedly discrepant in the English context. This study introduces a dynamic tourism destination image (TDI) model that bridges human geography and psychological perspectives, offering empirical evidence to optimize bilingual promotional strategies and enhance interactive experiences in heritage destinations.

White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, Modernist Architecture, and Contemporary Preservation

White City of Tel-Aviv – the Modern Movement — 2025 — WHE59AF54BE0E

Contemporary architectural preservation efforts have inadvertently perpetuated the racialized legacy of early 20th-century settler colonialism, particularly in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Tel Aviv. The study reveals how preservation narratives, including documentation and inscription on the World Heritage List, often reinforce the notion of 'white cities'—originally designed to exclude Indigenous zones. Through ethnographic research with local preservationists and analysis of primary sources such as World Heritage Committee notes and nomination files, the book exposes the geopolitical and spatial politics embedded in modernist architecture. This work challenges scholars and policymakers to reconsider the ethics and consequences of preserving built environments that carry colonial histories.

Whose stories do we tell? Exploring narrative constructions of Bridgetown and its Garrison, Barbados’ UNESCO World Heritage Site

Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison — 2025 — WHEEDBFA4FF4B

Research on Bridgetown and its Garrison, Barbados' UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals that diverse narratives—ranging from official colonial heritage to lived experiences and intangible traditions—enrich the site's significance for both locals and visitors. The study, involving participatory workshops and stakeholder interviews, demonstrates that incorporating multiple storytelling perspectives can better reflect Barbadian identity while enhancing visitor engagement. This approach bridges tangible and intangible heritage, advocating for narrative plurality over a single coherent storyworld to create more inclusive and meaningful experiences at the site.

Whose stories do we tell?: Exploring narrative constructions of Bridgetown and its Garrison, Barbados’ UNESCO World Heritage Site

Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison — 2025 — WHED911187DE2

A diverse range of narratives, including both official and lesser-known stories, enrich the experience and value of Bridgetown and its Garrison, Barbados' UNESCO World Heritage Site. This study reveals that incorporating multiple storytelling perspectives can better reflect Barbadian identity and enhance visitor experiences, demonstrating a potential synergy between tangible and intangible heritage. While acknowledging the importance of a coherent storyworld, the research advocates for narrative plurality in destination storytelling to bridge these domains effectively.

Why Jeongjo Made Frequent Visits to Hwaseong

Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty — 2025 — WHE6390815486

King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty made unusually frequent visits to Hwaseong, his father's tomb, compared to other kings. While most kings visited ancestral tombs once or twice a year, Jeongjo made three visits annually during his 24-year reign, totaling 66 visits—half of which were to Hwaseong. After the relocation of his father’s tomb to Mt. Hwasan in 1789, he consistently visited in the first or second month of each year with officials to pay respects. This pattern suggests a unique personal and political significance attached to these visits during Jeongjo's reign.

Wild ActionFormer: Enhancing wildlife action recognition for 11 endangered species in Wolong

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains — 2025 — WHE6E489454AC

A novel video self-supervised learning-based network, Wild ActionFormer, achieves 95.09% Top-1 accuracy in recognizing actions of 11 endangered species in the Wolong Nature Reserve, marking a significant advancement over baseline models. This breakthrough leverages UniformerV2 as its backbone and incorporates differential dispersion regularization loss to enhance feature extraction robustness while mitigating interference. The Focal Loss reweighting strategy further optimizes performance for long-tail classes, addressing data imbalance biases. Validated on the LoTE-Animal dataset—comprising 10,000 videos of species like giant pandas and Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys—the study demonstrates the potential of automated action recognition in conservation research, offering precise insights into wildlife behavior without manual annotation.

Wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris) in Germany: Is reintroduction a viable approach?

Upper Middle Rhine Valley — 2025 — WHE3F03725178

Despite long-term reintroduction efforts, the wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris) remains critically endangered in Germany's Upper Middle Rhine Valley, with only 16% of planted individuals showing high vitality and reproductive potential by 2018. A survey revealed that 55% of plants introduced since 2012 had died, primarily due to unsuitable light conditions caused by canopy cover. The species faces persistent threats from habitat degradation, hybridization, and slow establishment, exacerbated by its dioecy and late reproductive age. Researchers emphasize the need for targeted renaturation measures, such as restoring natural flooding dynamics, to create viable habitats and ensure long-term survival. Regular monitoring is crucial to assess reintroduction success and protective measures.

Wildfires in Brazilian Biomes: Environmental Impacts, Policy Challenges, and Future Directions

Central Amazon Conservation Complex — 2025 — WHEFC883E7B5A

A comprehensive analysis of wildfires in Brazil reveals that 80% of fires from 1999 to 2024 occurred in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, primarily driven by agricultural expansion during dry seasons. These fires significantly impact ecosystems by altering soil properties, hydrological processes, carbon stocks, and erosion, with effects varying by vegetation type and burn severity. Despite efforts like Integrated Fire Management (IFM) incorporating prescribed burning and traditional knowledge, fragmented policies and resource shortages hinder effective fire management. Future strategies must prioritize coordination among science, policy, and local communities, alongside expanded remote sensing and region-specific solutions to address illegal fires and promote conservation.

Willigis and his Cathedral – the Building of a New Coronation Church by the Archchancellor and Archbishop of Mainz

Aachen Cathedral — 2025 — WHE8539FDC80C

A groundbreaking analysis reveals that Willigis, Archbishop of Mainz and Archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire, constructed the Willigis Cathedral to serve as a coronation church, following his exclusion from conducting coronations at Aachen Palatine Chapel due to ecclesiastical disputes. This study proposes that Willigis incorporated iconographic and topographical references to the Empire, drawing inspiration from Old St Peter’s in Rome, where imperial coronations were traditionally held. The research sheds light on the strategic architectural choices made by Willigis to assert his authority within the Holy Roman Empire, while also suggesting a new original location for the Willigis doors, further enriching our understanding of medieval ecclesiastical and political dynamics.

Wind Furnaces of the Atacama Salt Flat, Northern Chile: Copper Extractive Metallurgy at the Edge of Qhapaq Ñan

Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System — 2025 — WHE34D3A41CD9

Archaeological research at the Catarpe Túnel site in northern Chile has uncovered a series of pyrometallurgical furnaces used during the Late period (AD 1400–1536) to produce unalloyed copper prills from local ores, including atacamite and chrysocolla. This discovery marks the only major archaeometallurgical site in the Atacama oasis and salt flats, offering insights into advanced metallurgical practices of the region. The study employed archaeometric analysis to determine ore types, metallic composition, and fuel characteristics, revealing a sophisticated local tradition. Notably, the proximity of these furnaces to a documented section of Qhapaq Ñan and an Inka administrative center suggests potential Tawantinsuyu influence on regional metallurgy.

Within the Realm of a Dying Harem

Golestan Palace — 2025 — WHEE7C81CE933

A notable finding from the Golestan Palace Archives reveals the complex social dynamics and photographic culture within the Qajar harem during the late 19th century. The study highlights how photography, already a staple of court life, shaped relationships among women, including the shah’s temporary wife, Khanom Bashi, and Anis al-Dowleh, the 'Queen of Iran.' By analyzing these photographs through Ariella Azoulay’s framework, which treats photography as an act rather than a mere document, the research demonstrates how visual representation influenced courtly behavior and hierarchy. This approach offers a unique lens to understand the agency and ontology of women in Iranian court life during this period.

Women Entrepreneurship in National Park: Challenges, Motivations, and Growth Potential with special reference to Manas National Park, India.

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary — 2025 — WHEA5839F7A0D

Despite being crucial contributors to revenue generation, women entrepreneurship remains underdeveloped in rural areas of Manas National Park, a key wildlife tourism destination. This study highlights significant barriers preventing women from establishing and running enterprises in the region, while also identifying motivations for those interested in venturing into entrepreneurship. The research employs a dual approach: analyzing existing women entrepreneurs' challenges and examining factors that inspire aspiring female business owners. Findings underscore the untapped potential of women-led businesses in supporting sustainable tourism growth within protected areas like Manas National Park.