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
Some countries publish detailed defense budgets while others keep most military spending secret, making it hard to assess true security risks or hold leaders accountable for spending choices. Greater transparency remains politically resisted in many places.
society-governance
global-unspecified
spending
military
there
consistent
standard
transparent
governments
must
some
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
public
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
When leadership changes, new appointees sometimes cancel or redirect projects started by their predecessors, wasting resources and delaying outcomes citizens were promised. Building continuity across political transitions remains structurally difficult.
society-governance
global-unspecified
political
appointees
projects
continuity
frequently
change
government
direction
often
long-term
public
building
data
trust
real
philosophy-ethics
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
In systems with many competing parties, forming a stable governing coalition can require compromises so broad that clear, decisive policy becomes difficult to achieve. This instability can leave important issues unresolved for years.
society-governance
global-unspecified
parties
coalitions
smaller
political
often
struggle
govern
effectively
due
constant
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
systems
haven
technology-computing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even when an agency is widely recognized as ineffective or wasteful, political and legal hurdles can keep it running largely unchanged for years. Faster institutional accountability mechanisms remain rare in most government systems.
society-governance
global-unspecified
legal
governments
often
lack
clear
fast
process
shutting
down
reforming
public
systems
whether
philosophy-ethics
technology-computing
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some high offices have strict term limits while others, sometimes in the same country, have none at all, allowing certain officials to accumulate power for decades. This inconsistency undermines the broader principle term limits are meant to protect.
society-governance
global-unspecified
term
limits
officials
power
judges
top
applied
inconsistently
entrenched
remains
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
haven
determine
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
By the time bills are opened for public comment, the major provisions are frequently already settled behind closed doors, limiting how much public input can actually shape outcomes. Earlier, more meaningful participation remains rare in most legislative processes.
society-governance
global-unspecified
public
participation
already
drafting
new
laws
often
minimal
until
key
institutions
whether
consultation
philosophy-ethics
designing
local
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As more of daily life moves online, legal protections for things like personal data or digital speech remain undefined or inconsistent in many legal systems. This leaves citizens' rights online less clear than their rights offline.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
legal
rights
online
digital
like
countries
lack
frameworks
clearly
define
systems
society-governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
corruption
resilient
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As more countries and private companies launch satellites, questions about interference, debris responsibility, and orbital rights have no clear, universally accepted governance system. This gap grows more urgent as space becomes more crowded.
science-space
global-unspecified
satellites
orbital
there
shared
framework
governing
controls
infrastructure
countries
whether
philosophy-ethics
have
determine
don
resolved
society-governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Different countries have wildly different rules on what genetic research is permitted, creating a patchwork where risky experiments can simply move to wherever oversight is weakest. International cooperation on this remains far behind the pace of the science.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
have
research
institutions
consistent
framework
governing
ethics
safety
gene
whether
determine
resolved
don
mathematics-logic
agreed
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
International bodies can investigate and condemn abuses, but enforcement mechanisms are weak, especially against powerful countries that can block action through alliances or veto power. This leaves accountability inconsistent and often politically selective.
society-governance
global-unspecified
there
reliable
system
holding
governments
accountable
mass
human
rights
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
have
haven
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Warring factions sometimes restrict aid access as a tactic, leaving civilians without food, medicine, or shelter even when help is nearby and available. International governance has struggled to guarantee safe humanitarian access consistently.
society-governance
global-unspecified
humanitarian
aid
delivery
conflict
zones
often
blocked
delayed
same
parties
access
african
lack
low
remains
limited
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As militaries develop weapons systems capable of selecting and engaging targets with limited human oversight, international law hasn't kept pace with defining acceptable limits. This leaves a rapidly advancing and ethically fraught technology largely unregulated.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
weapons
there
clear
framework
governing
autonomous
warfare
militaries
develop
society-governance
systems
public
whether
oversight
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Analysts sometimes identify a brewing conflict years in advance, but international bodies frequently lack the money or mandate to intervene before violence breaks out. This turns prevention into reaction after the fact.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
conflict
lack
institutions
meant
prevent
often
funding
needed
actually
society-governance
philosophy-ethics
whether
early
systems
african
health-biology
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Money can be moved through jurisdictions with looser financial oversight, effectively laundering funds before they re-enter stricter financial systems elsewhere. Coordinated global standards remain incomplete and unevenly enforced.
society-governance
global-unspecified
laundering
anti-money
rules
differ
between
countries
criminals
exploit
weakest
links
systems
technology-computing
across
oversight
public
financial
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sanctions meant to pressure governments or individuals can be undermined by countries or companies willing to look the other way for financial benefit. Without stronger enforcement, sanctions can end up symbolic rather than effective.
society-governance
global-unspecified
sanctions
individuals
companies
international
inconsistently
enforced
letting
some
targeted
quietly
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
have
determine
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Legal disagreements over evidence standards, human rights protections, or political considerations often delay extradition requests for years, sometimes indefinitely. This lets serious crimes go unpunished simply due to geography.
society-governance
global-unspecified
extradition
legal
years
processes
between
countries
different
systems
take
letting
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
african
technology-computing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Criminal networks can move faster across borders than law enforcement agencies can share information and coordinate action. Even close allies often face legal and bureaucratic hurdles that slow joint investigations.
society-governance
global-unspecified
coordinate
governments
struggle
cross-border
responses
organized
crime
operating
multiple
countries
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
have
african
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
One department might have strong protections while another, handling equally sensitive data, has outdated or minimal security. This inconsistency creates weak points that attackers can exploit even in otherwise well-defended governments.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
cybersecurity
even
standards
government
systems
vary
enormously
same
country
different
society-governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
data
public
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Government requests for user data from platforms vary wildly in scope and legal justification from country to country, creating confusion for both companies and citizens about what protections actually apply. A clearer international norm remains unbuilt.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
international
data
companies
there
consistent
standard
governments
request
tech
country
whether
society-governance
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
have
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
People who qualify for visas or residency under existing rules can still wait years due to processing backlogs and understaffed agencies. This delay affects not just applicants but the families and employers depending on them.
society-governance
global-unspecified
applicants
years
delay
immigration
systems
wealthy
countries
complex
enough
even
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
resolved
mathematics-logic
lack
