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
Lung cancer screening guidelines are generally built around smoking history, but a meaningful share of cases occur in people who never smoked at all and often go undetected until later stages. Better screening approaches for this group remain underdeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
lung
cancer
people
never
smoked
don
have
scalable
way
detect
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
IBS causes chronic digestive discomfort for a significant portion of people worldwide, yet treatment options remain limited to symptom management rather than addressing root causes. The underlying biology is still not fully mapped out.
health-biology
global-unspecified
haven
found
reliable
cure
irritable
bowel
syndrome
affecting
large
share
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
determine
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Preeclampsia can develop suddenly and seriously endanger both mother and baby, and current screening still misses many cases until symptoms are already severe. Earlier, more accurate prediction could prevent serious harm.
health-biology
global-unspecified
develop
preeclampsia
yet
accurately
predict
pregnancies
will
dangerous
complications
like
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
mathematics-logic
resolved
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Despite strict hygiene protocols, patients still frequently contract infections during hospital stays that they didn't have when they arrived. Closing this gap could save both lives and enormous healthcare costs.
health-biology
global-unspecified
have
infections
don
fully
effective
way
prevent
hospital-acquired
despite
strict
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Millions of people experience debilitating, unpredictable migraines that current treatments only partially control, and the underlying biological triggers remain incompletely understood. More precise treatment based on individual causes remains out of reach.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
migraines
people
haven
solved
chronic
affect
some
far
severely
others
philosophy-ethics
whether
health-biology
resolved
determine
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Cartilage has very limited ability to heal itself, which is why joint damage from injury or arthritis often leads to chronic pain or eventual joint replacement. Better regeneration methods could delay or eliminate the need for many of these surgeries.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cartilage
reliably
regenerate
damaged
joints
surgery
joint
has
very
limited
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
way
pain
chronic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The constant ringing or buzzing sound of tinnitus affects millions of people, and current treatments mostly help patients cope rather than eliminate the underlying cause. A real cure remains undiscovered.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
tinnitus
people
haven
found
works
experience
constant
ringing
buzzing
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
mathematics-logic
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many new parents experience postpartum depression that goes undiagnosed or untreated for months, affecting both their wellbeing and their infant's early development. Faster detection and more accessible treatment remain unmet needs.
health-biology
global-unspecified
postpartum
depression
yet
reliably
treat
causes
lasting
harm
new
parents
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
haven
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A large share of pregnancy loss has no clearly identifiable cause, leaving expecting parents without answers or ways to prevent it happening again. Understanding these unexplained cases remains a significant gap in reproductive medicine.
health-biology
global-unspecified
prevent
cases
cause
don
have
reliable
way
miscarriages
unknown
large
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many patients with endometriosis experience years of unexplained pain before receiving an accurate diagnosis, largely because it's difficult to detect without invasive procedures. Better, faster diagnostic tools remain a major unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
endometriosis
years
haven
solved
well
enough
stop
taking
diagnose
patients
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
mathematics-logic
determine
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Severe burn victims often face long, painful recoveries and permanent scarring because lab-grown skin grafts aren't yet fast or effective enough to fully replace damaged tissue. Faster, better regeneration methods could change burn treatment entirely.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
skin
fast
enough
severe
grow
functional
replacement
patients
burns
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
fully
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Food allergies have been rising for reasons researchers still can't fully explain, and existing treatments mostly manage symptoms after exposure rather than removing the risk entirely. A true prevention or cure remains elusive.
health-biology
global-unspecified
fully
don
understand
some
people
develop
severe
allergic
reactions
foods
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ovarian cancer is often called a silent disease because symptoms don't appear until it has advanced significantly. Early detection tools remain far behind those available for other common cancers.
health-biology
global-unspecified
ovarian
cancer
early
haven
developed
reliable
way
detect
treatable
often
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
don
resolved
have
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fatty liver disease and cirrhosis often progress silently until liver function is severely compromised, leaving transplant as the only real option for many patients. A way to reverse earlier-stage liver damage could prevent countless transplants.
health-biology
global-unspecified
liver
reverse
damage
disease
transplant
yet
caused
chronic
requires
fatty
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
haven
mathematics-logic
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Africa
Emerging gene therapies show promise but remain extremely expensive and inaccessible to the vast majority of people living with sickle cell disease worldwide, especially in Africa where it's most common. Making a real cure affordable and available remains unsolved.
health-biology
africa
global-unspecified
cure
sickle
cell
disease
available
don
have
scalable
patients
need
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Pancreatic cancer often shows no clear symptoms until it has already spread, making it one of the deadliest common cancers. An affordable early screening method could dramatically improve survival rates.
health-biology
global-unspecified
pancreatic
cancer
early
haven
found
way
detect
enough
treat
successfully
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Bacteria evolve resistance faster than new antibiotics are being developed and approved, creating a widening treatment gap. Without new approaches, once-treatable infections could become far deadlier again.
health-biology
global-unspecified
new
infections
yet
stop
rise
antibiotic-resistant
drug
development
alone
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
resolved
papua
mathematics-logic
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Millions of people live with persistent, disabling fatigue that doctors struggle to diagnose clearly or treat effectively. The underlying biology remains poorly understood despite decades of patient reports.
health-biology
global-unspecified
fatigue
don
have
reliable
cure
chronic
syndrome
millions
people
live
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
way
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Conditions like long COVID and chronic Lyme disease affect some patients severely while others recover fully from the same initial infection. Understanding this difference could unlock treatments for currently unexplained chronic illness.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
some
illness
others
haven
solved
infections
turn
long-term
certain
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
fully
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Patients often go through months of chemotherapy or other treatments before doctors learn whether it's actually working for their specific cancer. Better predictive tools could spare patients ineffective treatment and its side effects.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cancer
treatment
reliably
predict
will
respond
well
given
trying
patients
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
way
mathematics-logic
determine
