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
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
The polar region offers unique vantage points for studying solar–terrestrial interactions and cosmic phenomena. Expanded instrumentation and data-sharing could advance space science.
science-space
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
space-weather
upper-atmosphere
processes
over
understudied
polar
region
offers
unique
space
data
weather
upper
atmosphere
climate-environment
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
The polar region offers unique vantage points for studying solar–terrestrial interactions and cosmic phenomena. Expanded instrumentation and data-sharing could advance space science.
science-space
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
space-weather
upper-atmosphere
processes
over
understudied
variant
focuses
data
monitoring
climate-environment
african
europe
will
society-governance
europe-unspecified
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Old ice archives can extend climate reconstructions, but drilling and analysis are costly and complex. Improved drilling technology and coordinated core-analysis programmes can unlock more data.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
ice
climate
antarctic
cores
hold
records
have
not
fully
exploited
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
data
under
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Antarctic sea-ice changes influence deep-water formation and global heat and carbon transport. Coupled observations and models are essential.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
not
fully
understand
feedbacks
between
sea
ice
ocean
stratification
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Different national programmes apply varying thresholds and methods, complicating cumulative management. Common EIA frameworks and tools could standardise practice.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
lack
harmonised
environmental-impact
assessment
standards
antarctic
activities
different
national
programmes
methods
society-governance
assessing
cumulative
impact
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Non-native species could establish in warming niches, disrupting ecosystems. Biosecurity surveillance networks and risk-modelling tools are needed.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
species
monitoring
invasive
risks
associated
shipping
tourism
limited
non-native
establish
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
prevent
whether
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Sub-glacial lakes and channels affect ice dynamics and unique ecosystems, but access is difficult. Remote sensing and careful drilling campaigns can expand knowledge.
mathematics-logic
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
sub-glacial
know
little
deep
antarctic
hydrological
systems
lakes
channels
affect
global-unspecified
sub
glacial
about
climate-environment
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Sub-glacial lakes and channels affect ice dynamics and unique ecosystems, but access is difficult. Remote sensing and careful drilling campaigns can expand knowledge.
mathematics-logic
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
sub-glacial
know
little
deep
antarctic
hydrological
systems
variant
focuses
data
climate-environment
society-governance
global-unspecified
monitoring
african
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
The region’s remoteness makes its risks seem abstract, reducing support for mitigation. Storytelling tools and visualisation platforms can bridge this gap.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
climate
communication
antarctic
change
often
fails
reach
motivate
wider
publics
african
society-governance
global-unspecified
technology-computing
about
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Combining climate, pollution, and human disturbance into resilience indicators is complex. Systems-modelling and indicator-design work can support adaptive management.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
resilience
lack
clear
metrics
antarctic
ecosystem
under
multiple
stressors
combining
methods
society-governance
systems
assessing
climate
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Shifted Southern Ocean dynamics could trigger large-scale circulation changes. High-resolution Earth-system models and sustained observations are needed.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
changes
ocean
circulation
not
know
antarctic
will
alter
thresholds
fully
global-unspecified
understand
ice
science-space
climate
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Debates over future extraction lack robust cost–benefit analyses including climate and ecosystem services. Integrated economic–ecological modelling tools could inform policy.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
economics
strict
antarctic
protection
versus
potential
resource
exploitation
poorly
mapped
global-unspecified
society-governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
climate
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Dual-use technologies and geopolitical competition create ambiguities under the Treaty’s peaceful-use principles. Transparency and monitoring tools can support confidence-building.
society-governance
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
security
concerns
military
antarctic
infrastructure
rising
dual-use
technologies
geopolitical
competition
monitoring
enabling
continuous
climate-environment
under
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Dual-use technologies and geopolitical competition create ambiguities under the Treaty’s peaceful-use principles. Transparency and monitoring tools can support confidence-building.
society-governance
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
monitoring
security
concerns
military
antarctic
infrastructure
rising
variant
focuses
data
climate-environment
technologies
enabling
continuous
systems
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Voluntary guidelines vary, leading to uneven practice. Certification schemes and audit platforms could harmonise standards.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
standardising
safety
environmental
protocols
tour
operators
remains
voluntary
guidelines
vary
global-unspecified
african
across
quality
informal
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Acoustic disturbance may affect whales, seals, and birds, but data are sparse. Acoustic monitoring networks and impact models can inform regulation.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
lack
detailed
mapping
noise
pollution
impacts
ships
aircraft
antarctic
fauna
global-unspecified
data
african
technology-computing
monitoring
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Data centers powering cloud services and AI models consume enormous and fast-growing amounts of electricity and water for cooling. Making this growth sustainable rather than simply larger remains a critical unsolved engineering challenge.
local-regional
global-unspecified
cloud
sustainable
haven
solved
make
computing
given
its
rapidly
growing
whether
climate-environment
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
way
technology-computing
open
Honduras, North America
The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for education approaches that build the capacity of local institutions to manage climate risks creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.
society-governance
north-america
honduras
approaches
risks
education
build
capacity
local
institutions
manage
climate
breakthrough
systems
solutions
climate-environment
governance
methods
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Passwords remain widely used despite being easy to steal or forget, and alternatives like biometrics or hardware keys haven't achieved universal, trusted adoption. A truly seamless and secure replacement remains unbuilt at global scale.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
haven
trusted
found
way
make
password-free
authentication
universally
available
passwords
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
Agriculture, hydropower, and urban water supplies are increasingly affected by changing rainfall and heat patterns. Climate-risk modelling and adaptation investment platforms can help prioritise responses.
climate-environment
south-america
south-america-unspecified
climate-change
climate
change
intensifying
droughts
extreme
weather
south
america
agriculture
hydropower
cities
urban
water
heat
