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
Postpartum anxiety is common but often overlooked compared to postpartum depression, leaving many new parents without adequate screening or treatment. Closing this awareness and treatment gap remains an unmet need in maternal healthcare.
health-biology
global-unspecified
maternal-health
postpartum
anxiety
depression
haven
solved
detect
treat
effectively
treatment
common
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many parts of the world have extremely few mental health professionals relative to their population, leaving most people with mental health needs entirely unsupported. Solving this requires new models of care delivery, not just more funding.
health-biology
global-unspecified
mental-health
mental
health
have
professionals
don
scalable
way
provide
support
regions
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Lifestyle interventions can reduce risk for some people, but a meaningful share of high-risk individuals still develop type 2 diabetes despite following recommended prevention advice. A more effective, individualized prevention approach remains needed.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
type
diabetes
high-risk
individuals
haven
found
reliable
way
prevent
development
whether
resolved
health-biology
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A subset of patients with chronic constipation don't find relief through typical dietary changes or over-the-counter treatments, leaving them with persistent discomfort and few further options. More effective alternatives remain limited.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
constipation
dietary
yet
fully
treat
doesn
respond
standard
medical
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
determine
don
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some people who die of sudden cardiac events had no known risk factors or warning signs beforehand, suggesting current screening methods miss a meaningful share of at-risk individuals. Better detection tools for this group remain an open need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
signs
people
risk
factors
haven
solved
detect
early
heart
disease
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
way
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some patients experience persistent, unexplained itching with no identifiable skin problem, kidney issue, or other clear cause, making treatment largely trial and error. Understanding the underlying mechanism remains incomplete.
health-biology
global-unspecified
itching
skin
yet
fully
explain
chronic
sometimes
occurs
any
visible
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A portion of shingles patients develop long-term nerve pain, known as postherpetic neuralgia, that persists long after the rash has healed. Preventing this complication before it develops remains an incomplete area of treatment.
health-biology
global-unspecified
pain
shingles
yet
fully
prevent
chronic
sometimes
follows
infections
portion
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Current prostate cancer screening can miss dangerous cancers or flag ones that would never have caused harm, leading to unnecessary treatment in some cases and missed cancers in others. A more precise screening method remains an unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
have
prostate
cancer
don
widely
available
way
screen
avoids
both
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Hospitals with limited resources for sterile equipment and infection control see higher rates of post-surgical infections than better-equipped facilities. Closing this gap requires both medical and infrastructure solutions that remain incomplete in many regions.
health-biology
global-unspecified
infections
haven
solved
prevent
surgical
site
resource-limited
hospital
settings
hospitals
whether
philosophy-ethics
solutions
society-governance
way
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some patients with autoimmune diseases experience unexplained periods of remission without clear treatment causes, while others never do. Understanding this could reveal new treatment pathways currently hidden within the body's own natural mechanisms.
health-biology
global-unspecified
some
autoimmune
remission
own
while
others
yet
fully
explain
conditions
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Hormonal changes after menopause accelerate bone loss, increasing fracture risk, and current prevention methods only partially offset this decline. A more effective, targeted prevention approach remains needed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
bone
loss
menopause
yet
fully
prevent
density
occurs
prevention
hormonal
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chronic dry eye can be persistent and uncomfortable, and while treatments exist, many patients don't find lasting relief from current options. A more effective, longer-lasting treatment remains an unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
don
effective
chronic
dry
eye
have
way
treat
syndrome
significant
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chronic malnutrition in early childhood can cause lasting physical and cognitive effects that are difficult to reverse later in life. Preventing this before it happens remains far more effective, and far less solved, than treating it afterward.
health-biology
global-unspecified
solved
haven
prevent
malnutrition-related
stunting
children
food-insecure
regions
far
chronic
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Low-grade chronic inflammation is linked to numerous diseases, yet in many patients there's no clear infection or injury explaining why it continues. Understanding this could unlock treatments for a wide range of related conditions.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
chronic
inflammation
fully
explain
persists
some
people
obvious
ongoing
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Confirming an endometriosis diagnosis often still requires invasive surgery, delaying treatment for patients who could benefit from earlier intervention. A reliable non-invasive diagnostic method remains an important unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
reliable
non-invasive
endometriosis
surgery
don
have
way
diagnose
confirming
diagnosis
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even after successful treatment of the bacteria that commonly causes stomach ulcers, some patients experience recurring ulcers due to other contributing factors. A more comprehensive prevention approach remains needed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
ulcers
patients
haven
found
way
fully
prevent
recurrence
treated
pylori
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sleep apnea, when left untreated for years, is linked to cognitive decline and other health issues, yet many cases go undiagnosed simply because symptoms are mistaken for normal fatigue. Earlier, more widespread detection remains an unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
cognitive
untreated
sleep
apnea
fully
prevent
long-term
effects
left
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
way
open
Global / Unspecified, South America
This parasitic disease continues to cause preventable blindness in parts of Africa and Latin America, largely due to limited access to consistent treatment. Expanding affordable access remains the main barrier rather than lack of an effective treatment.
health-biology
south-america
global-unspecified
treatment
effective
affordable
blindness
don
have
river
available
everywhere
needed
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Vaccines are safe and effective for the vast majority of people, but a small number experience severe reactions for reasons not yet fully understood. Better prediction of who's at risk could make vaccination even safer.
health-biology
global-unspecified
vaccination
people
experience
severe
reactions
vaccines
haven
solved
some
while
don
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some patients with chronic sinusitis continue experiencing symptoms even after surgical intervention, suggesting current treatments don't address every underlying cause. A more complete understanding and treatment approach remains needed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
don
yet
fully
cure
sinus
infections
respond
standard
antibiotics
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
way
