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
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
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Thyroid problems after childbirth can cause fatigue, mood changes, and other symptoms that are sometimes mistaken for normal postpartum adjustment, delaying diagnosis. Routine, accessible screening remains inconsistently practiced.
health-biology
global-unspecified
accessible
postpartum
thyroid
don
have
widely
way
detect
treat
dysfunction
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many patients with chronic conditions end up back in the hospital shortly after being discharged, often due to gaps in follow-up care rather than a failure of the original treatment. Better post-discharge support remains an unresolved healthcare system issue.
health-biology
global-unspecified
hospital
chronic
patients
haven
found
reliable
way
prevent
readmissions
disease
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some diseases occur far more frequently within certain populations due to genetic factors that aren't yet fully mapped or understood. Filling this knowledge gap could lead to more targeted prevention and treatment.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
fully
certain
populations
diseases
explain
genetically
susceptible
specific
some
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Patients who've had one dangerous blood clot are at ongoing risk of another, and current prevention relies mainly on long-term blood thinners that carry their own risks. A more targeted, lower-risk prevention method remains needed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
blood
patients
don
have
effective
way
prevent
recurrence
clots
prone
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many cancer survivors continue to experience pain long after their cancer treatment concludes, and this pain is often undertreated because it's assumed to have resolved along with the disease. Better long-term pain management for survivors remains an overlooked need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
pain
cancer
survivors
treatment
haven
solved
treat
chronic
has
ended
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
determine
resolved
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Research shows a strong link between childhood trauma and adult physical illness, but effective, scalable prevention and early intervention remain limited. Closing this gap could improve both mental and physical health outcomes across entire populations.
health-biology
global-unspecified
physical
childhood
trauma
adult
health
yet
fully
prevent
long-term
effects
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematics-logic
society-governance
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Extended time in a hospital bed, especially in intensive care, can cause significant muscle loss that affects recovery and long-term function. Better prevention methods during hospitalization remain underdeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
muscle
hospital
haven
found
effective
way
prevent
wasting
caused
long
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A meaningful share of infertility cases have no identifiable cause even after thorough testing, leaving both patients and doctors without clear answers or targeted treatment. Understanding these cases better remains an open research priority.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
cases
infertility
yet
fully
explain
biological
causes
unexplained
meaningful
share
whether
philosophy-ethics
health-biology
haven
resolved
way
A persistent gap exists in realizing practical, scalable solutions for technologies for the safe and efficient long-term storage of renewable energy at seasonal scales. Scientific understanding, engineering readiness and institutional capacity remain insufficient to translate promising concepts into durable impact under real-world constraints of cost, skills and governance.
society-governance
europe
france
renewable-energy
scalable
solutions
technologies
safe
efficient
long-term
storage
renewable
energy
seasonal
systems
methods
enabling
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A subset of patients with chronic hives don't respond well to typical antihistamine treatment, leaving them with persistent, disruptive symptoms and few further options. More effective alternatives remain limited.
health-biology
global-unspecified
don
effective
treatment
chronic
hives
respond
have
widely
available
standard
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Childhood asthma rates have risen substantially, but why some children develop severe, persistent symptoms while others exposed to similar triggers don't remains only partly understood. A clearer answer could improve both prevention and treatment.
health-biology
global-unspecified
some
children
develop
severe
asthma
while
others
similar
don
haven
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some patients continue experiencing symptoms long after completing standard treatment for Lyme disease, and doctors disagree on both the cause and the best way to treat this lingering illness. Resolving this uncertainty remains a significant unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
treat
lyme
disease
symptoms
standard
treatment
yet
fully
chronic
persist
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
