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
Twin primes are pairs of prime numbers that differ by only two, and mathematicians strongly suspect there are infinitely many, but nobody has proven it. This remains one of number theory's oldest open questions.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
proven
there
infinitely
twin
prime
numbers
haven
whether
primes
pairs
know
possible
every
resolved
philosophy-ethics
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Conservation efforts often focus on species useful or appealing to humans, leaving the ethical status of less charismatic species less clear. Whether all species deserve equal protection regardless of usefulness remains unresolved.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
species
humans
haven
settled
obligations
any
have
toward
preserving
provide
whether
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
know
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
International law sets minimum obligations toward refugees, but whether wealthier nations have a deeper moral duty beyond the legal minimum remains a genuinely contested ethical question.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
nations
have
moral
duty
refugees
beyond
international
law
don
resolved
determine
know
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Every major technology carries some risk of misuse or unintended harm, but there's no agreed standard for how much risk is acceptable before restricting or slowing development.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
risk
acceptable
haven
found
shared
ethical
framework
developing
powerful
new
whether
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
know
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Poverty, trauma, and social conditions can heavily influence behavior, but there's no settled agreement on how much this should reduce someone's responsibility for their actions.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
responsibility
don
agree
person
circumstances
excuse
moral
legal
poverty
trauma
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Allowing payment for organs or surrogacy could increase availability and help people in need, but also raises concerns about exploitation of the poor. Society remains deeply divided on where ethical limits should sit.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
ethical
organs
haven
settled
whether
allow
markets
exist
things
like
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some products, like social media or certain foods, are deliberately designed to be highly engaging or addictive, raising questions about the maker's moral responsibility for resulting harm.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
responsibility
products
addictive
don
agree
companies
bear
societal
effects
know
whether
resolved
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some believe rewards should go strictly to those who work hardest or perform best, while others argue unequal starting points make pure merit-based systems inherently unfair. This tension remains philosophically unresolved.
local-regional
global-unspecified
haven
found
universal
answer
societies
balance
individual
merit
against
equal
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Reviving extinct species raises questions about ecological impact, animal welfare, and whether it's truly meant to help nature or satisfy human curiosity. There's no consensus on whether this is a responsible use of the technology.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
extinct
species
technology
don
agree
ethical
bring
back
genetic
resolved
haven
know
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Decisions today about climate, resource use, or nuclear waste will affect people who haven't been born yet and have no way to advocate for themselves. How much their future interests should count remains genuinely unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
haven
future
yet
settled
moral
weight
given
potential
humans
don
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
way
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue extreme wealth carries an obligation to help others, while others see it purely as a matter of personal choice. Philosophy hasn't settled this question in any way most people accept.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
obligation
wealth
don
agree
whether
wealthy
individuals
have
moral
give
resolved
know
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Modern technology can track location, health, and behavior far more intimately than ever before, and there's no agreed line for when this crosses from useful into invasive.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
technology
haven
found
shared
ethical
standard
surveillance
allowed
know
modern
whether
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Decisions about resource use often weigh immediate economic gain against long-term environmental cost, and there's no settled ethical formula for how to balance the two fairly.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
environmental
against
economic
don
agree
weight
future
damage
carry
present-day
whether
resolved
determine
haven
know
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As gene editing technology advances, the line between preventing disease and choosing traits like appearance or intelligence becomes ethically blurry. Society hasn't agreed on where, if anywhere, that line should be firmly drawn.
health-biology
global-unspecified
traits
technology
haven
settled
whether
parents
allowed
select
non-medical
children
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
mathematics-logic
determine
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some inequality is often seen as a natural result of differing effort or luck, but there's no agreed threshold for when it becomes unjust. Different political philosophies answer this question in fundamentally incompatible ways.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
answer
inequality
don
have
shared
economic
fair
society
tolerate
some
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some jurisdictions already use AI risk assessments to help judges decide sentences, raising concerns about fairness, bias, and accountability. Whether machines should have this level of influence over human freedom remains ethically unresolved.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
haven
agreed
ethical
make
final
decisions
criminal
sentencing
some
resolved
know
mathematics-logic
determine
don
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gig work can offer flexibility but often comes with unpredictable income swings that make financial planning difficult for workers. A system that offers more income stability without eliminating flexibility remains unresolved.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
income
gig
workers
yet
ensure
economy
have
predictable
stable
despite
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
informal
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Resources like fresh water, fertile soil, and certain minerals are being used faster than they can replenish, yet markets often don't price this depletion accurately. Building this cost into economic decision-making remains largely unresolved.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
don
economic
depletion
resources
have
system
properly
accounts
finite
natural
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Small businesses often struggle to access recovery funding quickly enough after disasters, leading to permanent closures that could have been prevented. Faster, more accessible recovery financing remains an unresolved gap.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
recovery
financing
quickly
small
businesses
haven
found
way
make
disaster
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
mathematics-logic
resolved
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
In many regions, a lack of real competition among providers allows companies to charge more than a competitive market would allow. Enforcing genuine competition in these industries remains a persistent regulatory challenge.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
industries
real
yet
prevent
monopolistic
pricing
few
competitors
like
internet
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
way
haven
