Repository of problems worth solving
World Solve is a public institutional repository for identifying real unresolved problems across science, society, health, governance, economics, and local systems. Each entry is intended to be citable, inspectable, and actionable.
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4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A subset of patients with chronic hives don't respond well to typical antihistamine treatment, leaving them with persistent, disruptive symptoms and few further options. More effective alternatives remain limited.
health-biology
global-unspecified
don
effective
treatment
chronic
hives
respond
have
widely
available
standard
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Childhood asthma rates have risen substantially, but why some children develop severe, persistent symptoms while others exposed to similar triggers don't remains only partly understood. A clearer answer could improve both prevention and treatment.
health-biology
global-unspecified
some
children
develop
severe
asthma
while
others
similar
don
haven
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many people who experience one episode of depression go on to experience another, and current treatments don't reliably prevent this recurrence. Better long-term prevention strategies remain an important gap in mental health care.
health-biology
global-unspecified
mental-health
don
prevent
recurrence
depression
episode
have
effective
way
first
experience
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Stomach cancer often causes no clear symptoms until it has progressed significantly, particularly in regions without routine screening programs. Earlier, more accessible detection could substantially improve survival outcomes.
health-biology
global-unspecified
stomach
cancer
haven
found
reliable
way
detect
early-stage
becomes
advanced
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Osteoarthritis treatment currently focuses on managing pain and preserving remaining function rather than restoring lost cartilage. A regenerative treatment could transform care for one of the most common causes of chronic pain in older adults.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cartilage
causes
osteoarthritis
don
have
effective
way
reverse
loss
treatment
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
United States, North America
Thousands of patients remain on transplant waiting lists that never resolve in time, largely because donor organ supply can't keep pace with demand. Alternatives like lab-grown organs remain the most promising but still unrealized solution.
local-regional
north-america
united-states
organ
patients
donor
haven
solved
make
transplants
available
relying
solely
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
health-biology
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Repeated gout attacks can cause lasting joint damage even with treatment, and prevention still relies mainly on managing uric acid levels rather than fully eliminating the underlying risk. A more definitive prevention method remains unmet.
health-biology
global-unspecified
joint
damage
gout
attacks
don
have
reliable
way
prevent
caused
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Narcolepsy causes sudden, uncontrollable sleep episodes that significantly disrupt daily life, and current treatments manage symptoms rather than address the underlying cause. A true cure remains undiscovered.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
narcolepsy
manage
symptoms
haven
found
way
only
its
medication
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
mathematics-logic
don
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
This parasitic disease affects millions in tropical and subtropical regions, but effective treatment remains expensive, difficult to access, or logistically challenging for many affected communities. Closing this access gap remains unresolved.
health-biology
global-unspecified
regions
don
have
affordable
cure
leishmaniasis
available
all
endemic
remains
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
This rare but severe condition can develop rapidly after childbirth, and delays in recognition and treatment can have dangerous consequences for both mother and baby. Faster, more reliable detection and treatment protocols remain an urgent unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
haven
solved
treat
postpartum
psychosis
quickly
enough
prevent
serious
harm
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
determine
resolved
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Malnutrition rates spike dramatically in areas affected by war, but delivering treatment consistently in unstable, hard-to-reach regions remains a persistent logistical and medical challenge. Solving this requires both medical and access innovation.
health-biology
global-unspecified
malnutrition
access
don
have
scalable
solution
treating
conflict
zones
aid
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Persistent dizziness and balance problems can severely affect quality of life, yet treatment for many chronic cases remains limited and inconsistent. A more reliable, targeted treatment approach remains undeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cases
chronic
haven
found
effective
way
treat
vertigo
treatment
remains
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even with strict sterile procedures, a portion of surgical patients still develop infections afterward, extending recovery and sometimes causing serious complications. Reducing this risk further remains an ongoing surgical challenge.
health-biology
global-unspecified
infections
don
have
reliable
way
prevent
postoperative
meaningful
share
surgeries
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Highly effective hepatitis C treatments exist, but cost and healthcare access still prevent many infected people worldwide from receiving them. Expanding affordable access remains the primary barrier rather than the science itself.
health-biology
global-unspecified
effective
hepatitis
don
have
widely
available
cure
chronic
every
region
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Diagnosing Alzheimer's currently often requires expensive brain imaging or invasive procedures, limiting how widely early detection can be used. A cheap, accessible blood test could change how early treatment can begin.
health-biology
global-unspecified
alzheimer
blood
test
haven
found
reliable
way
detect
early-stage
simple
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
early
don
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
COPD gradually reduces lung function over years, and while treatment can ease symptoms and slow decline, it can't reverse the underlying lung damage. A cure remains out of reach for the millions living with this condition.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
slow
yet
chronic
obstructive
pulmonary
disease
only
its
progression
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
determine
way
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Cervical cancer remains highly preventable through regular screening, but many women in lower-resource regions lack consistent access to the tests that catch it early. Closing this access gap could prevent large numbers of otherwise preventable deaths.
health-biology
global-unspecified
access
cervical
cancer
regions
regular
don
have
scalable
way
screen
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many people with chronic insomnia end up relying on sleep medication for years, since non-drug treatments don't work consistently for everyone. A more effective, sustainable solution remains an open need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
insomnia
medication
haven
found
reliable
way
treat
long-term
reliance
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
don
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even with modern reproductive technology, a significant share of infertility cases have no clear cause and don't respond well to existing treatments. Understanding these unexplained cases remains a major gap in reproductive medicine.
health-biology
global-unspecified
don
have
infertility
respond
treatments
cure
forms
standard
reproductive
cases
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
way
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Effective vaccines exist for a small number of sexually transmitted infections, but many common ones still have no vaccine available at all. Expanding vaccine coverage here could significantly reduce global disease burden.
health-biology
global-unspecified
vaccine
have
effective
sexually
transmitted
infections
don
against
beyond
few
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
agreed