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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4094Total
4094Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Testicular cancer is highly treatable when caught early, but a lack of widespread screening awareness means some cases are diagnosed later than they should be. Improving early detection and awareness remains an underaddressed public health gap.
health-biology
global-unspecified
public-health
early
awareness
testicular
cancer
screening
don
have
reliable
way
detect
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Effective treatments for addiction exist, but cost and availability limits keep many people from accessing them, particularly in underserved communities. Closing this access gap remains as important as any treatment breakthrough.
health-biology
global-unspecified
effective
addiction
treatment
haven
solved
make
accessible
everyone
needs
not
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Rates of myopia in children have been rising alongside increased screen time, and current prevention strategies remain limited and inconsistently applied. A clearer, more effective prevention approach remains an open need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
screen
children
yet
fully
prevent
vision
caused
prolonged
prevention
rates
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
resolved
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some patients experience persistent post-nasal drip despite standard allergy or sinus treatment, suggesting other underlying causes that current medicine doesn't fully address. A more targeted treatment approach remains needed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
treatment
post-nasal
drip
doesn
standard
allergy
don
have
effective
way
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Current malaria prevention still depends heavily on physical barriers and insecticides, both of which face growing resistance and logistical challenges in the regions most affected. A more durable prevention method remains an urgent unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
malaria
haven
found
widely
available
way
prevent
transmission
relying
primarily
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A minor injury sometimes triggers long-lasting chronic pain in some patients while similar injuries fully resolve in others, and the biological reason for this difference isn't fully understood. Solving this could improve treatment for a wide range of chronic pain conditions.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
fully
chronic
pain
some
conditions
minor
injuries
yet
explain
people
philosophy-ethics
whether
health-biology
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Recurrent tonsillitis in children often leads to tonsil removal because non-surgical prevention methods aren't reliably effective. A less invasive way to prevent recurrence remains undeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
effective
way
prevent
recurrence
tonsillitis
don
have
resorting
surgery
cases
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
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
Despite recognition of its importance, reliable methods for mechanisms for ensuring that climate and development finance reaches women and marginalized groups are still lacking. Progress is hindered by incomplete mechanistic knowledge, high capital and operational barriers, and the absence of deployment models suited to the contexts of greatest need.
climate-environment
asia
indonesia
mechanisms
ensuring
climate
development
finance
reaches
women
marginalized
groups
deployable
methods
systems
society-governance
barriers
designs
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