We haven't solved how to make space exploration a shared, not just national, achievement.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Space missions are still largely framed as national or corporate accomplishments rather than shared human ones, even though the benefits and risks affect everyone. A more collaborative model could accelerate progress and broaden its benefits.
science-space
global-unspecified
space
shared
national
haven
solved
make
exploration
not
just
achievement
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
agreed
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS00145
Title: We haven't solved how to make space exploration a shared, not just national, achievement.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=145
We don't have a reliable way to verify historical records that have been lost, altered, or destroyed.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Wars, disasters, and deliberate erasure have destroyed countless historical records, leaving gaps and disputes that may never be resolved. Better methods for reconstructing or verifying history could settle long-standing disputes.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
have
historical
records
destroyed
don
reliable
way
verify
been
lost
whether
determine
agreed
resolved
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS00144
Title: We don't have a reliable way to verify historical records that have been lost, altered, or destroyed.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=144
We haven't found a way to make disaster relief reach victims within the first critical hours consistently.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The first hours after a disaster are often the most critical for saving lives, yet aid frequently takes days to arrive due to logistics and coordination failures. Closing this gap could save many lives that are currently lost to delay alone.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
disaster
first
critical
hours
haven
found
way
make
relief
reach
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS00143
Title: We haven't found a way to make disaster relief reach victims within the first critical hours consistently.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=143
We don't have a global standard for how to preserve endangered languages before they disappear.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A language disappears roughly every few weeks somewhere in the world, often taking irreplaceable cultural knowledge with it. Without better preservation tools, much of human linguistic diversity may vanish within a generation.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
don
have
standard
preserve
endangered
languages
disappear
language
disappears
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
agreed
resolved
way
know
Citation ID: WS00142
Title: We don't have a global standard for how to preserve endangered languages before they disappear.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=142
We haven't proven whether the mathematics we use is entirely free of hidden contradictions.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gödel's incompleteness theorems showed that some mathematical systems can't prove their own consistency from within. Whether our foundational systems are truly contradiction-free remains, in a strict sense, unproven.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
haven
proven
mathematics
entirely
free
hidden
contradictions
systems
del
know
possible
philosophy-ethics
resolved
every
mathematical
Citation ID: WS00141
Title: We haven't proven whether the mathematics we use is entirely free of hidden contradictions.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=141
We don't have an efficient way to solve certain optimization problems as they scale up.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many real-world problems, like planning delivery routes or scheduling, become exponentially harder to solve exactly as they grow in size. Faster methods for these problems could save enormous time and resources across industries.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
solve
don
have
efficient
way
certain
optimization
scale
real-world
like
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
agreed
resolved
Citation ID: WS00140
Title: We don't have an efficient way to solve certain optimization problems as they scale up.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=140
We haven't solved how to compress information without any loss for all data types.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some compression methods shrink files perfectly for certain data but fail badly on others, and no universal, lossless method works equally well for everything. Solving this could make data storage and transmission dramatically more efficient.
society-governance
global-unspecified
data
haven
solved
compress
information
any
loss
all
types
some
whether
incomplete
limited
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
sparse
Citation ID: WS00139
Title: We haven't solved how to compress information without any loss for all data types.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=139
We don't have a unified logical framework for handling uncertainty and contradiction together.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Classical logic struggles with situations involving incomplete information or conflicting evidence, both common in the real world. A more flexible logical system could improve everything from AI reasoning to legal decision-making.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
logical
don
have
unified
framework
handling
uncertainty
contradiction
together
classical
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
know
Citation ID: WS00138
Title: We don't have a unified logical framework for handling uncertainty and contradiction together.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=138
We haven't found a way to fully model chaotic systems accurately over long time periods.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Small errors in chaotic systems like weather or turbulence grow so fast that long-term predictions quickly become unreliable. A better mathematical handle on chaos could improve forecasting in countless fields.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
chaotic
systems
haven
found
way
fully
model
accurately
over
long
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
possible
Citation ID: WS00137
Title: We haven't found a way to fully model chaotic systems accurately over long time periods.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=137
We don't have a general method to solve all types of nonlinear equations.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many real-world systems, from weather to economics, are described by nonlinear equations that resist neat, general solutions. Better methods here would improve prediction across nearly every scientific field.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
general
nonlinear
equations
don
have
method
solve
all
types
real-world
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
possible
every
know
Citation ID: WS00136
Title: We don't have a general method to solve all types of nonlinear equations.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=136
We haven't solved whether every even number greater than two is the sum of two primes.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Known as Goldbach's Conjecture, this simple-sounding statement has been checked for enormous numbers without exception, but never formally proven true for all numbers. It remains one of the oldest unsolved problems in mathematics.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
haven
solved
whether
every
even
number
greater
sum
primes
numbers
possible
know
mathematical
resolved
philosophy-ethics
Citation ID: WS00135
Title: We haven't solved whether every even number greater than two is the sum of two primes.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=135
We don't have a complete theory predicting how prime numbers are distributed.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Prime numbers appear to follow patterns at large scales but seem random up close, and mathematicians still lack a full explanation for this behavior. Understanding it better could improve encryption methods that rely on primes.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
prime
numbers
don
have
complete
theory
predicting
distributed
appear
follow
whether
haven
know
possible
every
proven
Citation ID: WS00134
Title: We don't have a complete theory predicting how prime numbers are distributed.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=134
We haven't proven the Riemann Hypothesis, a problem central to understanding prime numbers.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
This century-old conjecture predicts a hidden pattern in how prime numbers are distributed, but nobody has ever proven it true. A proof would deepen our understanding of numbers in ways that ripple into cryptography and physics.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
numbers
proven
understanding
prime
haven
riemann
hypothesis
central
century-old
conjecture
whether
every
know
possible
mathematical
Citation ID: WS00133
Title: We haven't proven the Riemann Hypothesis, a problem central to understanding prime numbers.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=133
We still don't know whether every math problem that's easy to check is also easy to solve.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Known as the P versus NP problem, this asks whether problems whose solutions are easy to verify are also easy to find in the first place. Answering it would reshape computer science, cryptography, and optimization overnight.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
easy
whether
also
don
know
every
math
check
solve
known
haven
philosophy-ethics
possible
resolved
Citation ID: WS00132
Title: We still don't know whether every math problem that's easy to check is also easy to solve.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=132
We haven't settled who should decide what values a global AI system should hold.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As AI systems increasingly influence what billions of people see, believe, and decide, someone is effectively choosing the values baked into those systems. There's no agreed process for who that someone should be, or how they should be held accountable.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
decide
values
haven
settled
system
hold
systems
someone
increasingly
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
determine
possible
Citation ID: WS00131
Title: We haven't settled who should decide what values a global AI system should hold.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=131
We don't agree on how much punishment is justice versus revenge.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Justice systems around the world vary wildly in how harshly they punish the same crimes, reflecting different beliefs about what punishment is actually for. Whether punishment should aim to rehabilitate, deter, or simply punish remains unresolved.
society-governance
global-unspecified
punishment
justice
don
agree
versus
revenge
punish
systems
around
world
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
haven
determine
know
Citation ID: WS00130
Title: We don't agree on how much punishment is justice versus revenge.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=130
We haven't found a universal answer to what a meaningful life requires.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Different cultures, religions, and individuals define meaning and purpose in very different ways, with no way to prove one view more correct than another. This makes questions about how to live well deeply personal rather than settled.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
haven
found
universal
answer
meaningful
life
requires
different
cultures
religions
whether
resolved
know
determine
don
way
Citation ID: WS00129
Title: We haven't found a universal answer to what a meaningful life requires.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=129
We don't agree on the limits of free speech when speech can cause real, measurable harm.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Free expression is valued almost everywhere, but so is protection from harassment, incitement, and harmful misinformation, and these values often conflict directly. No universal line exists for where one right ends and the other begins.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
speech
free
don
agree
limits
cause
real
measurable
harm
expression
whether
determine
resolved
know
haven
ethical
Citation ID: WS00128
Title: We don't agree on the limits of free speech when speech can cause real, measurable harm.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=128
We haven't settled how societies should treat people who cannot work due to automation.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As machines take over more jobs, some people may be unable to find meaningful paid work through no fault of their own. Whether society owes them support, and how much, remains a contested ethical and political question.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
people
work
haven
settled
societies
treat
cannot
due
automation
machines
whether
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
Citation ID: WS00127
Title: We haven't settled how societies should treat people who cannot work due to automation.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=127
We don't have an agreed ethical stance on creating artificial minds capable of suffering.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If AI systems ever become capable of something like suffering, we would have created that suffering deliberately, and we don't have a moral framework ready for that possibility. This question is likely to become urgent faster than expected.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
have
suffering
don
capable
agreed
ethical
stance
creating
artificial
minds
whether
determine
resolved
way
know
Citation ID: WS00126
Title: We don't have an agreed ethical stance on creating artificial minds capable of suffering.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=126
