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
Hundreds of different viruses cause cold symptoms, making a single cure extremely difficult to develop. It remains one of medicine's most familiar yet unsolved problems.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
cold
haven
found
common
despite
decades
trying
hundreds
different
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
determine
resolved
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Organ transplants still require lifelong drugs to stop the body from attacking the new organ, and many patients never get a match at all. Lab-grown organs from a patient's own cells could eliminate both problems.
health-biology
global-unspecified
organs
patient
body
grow
replacement
won
reject
organ
transplants
require
haven
whether
philosophy-ethics
north-america
united-states
solved
open
United States, North America
The flu virus mutates constantly, forcing a new vaccine guess every year that sometimes misses the mark. A universal flu vaccine could end this annual guessing game and prevent thousands of deaths.
health-biology
north-america
united-states
vaccine
flu
universal
don
have
protects
against
all
strains
virus
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
determine
whether
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis occur when the body attacks itself, and current treatments mostly suppress symptoms rather than fix the root cause. Millions live with lifelong management instead of a real cure.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
symptoms
autoimmune
diseases
only
manage
conditions
like
lupus
rheumatoid
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
mathematics-logic
don
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many fast-growing cities in arid regions are outpacing the water systems built to serve them, leading to shortages and rationing. Solving this needs both new infrastructure and smarter long-term water planning.
sdg-sustainable-development-goals
global-unspecified
water
infrastructure
serve
cities
regions
don
have
enough
clean
growing
climate-environment
urban
whether
philosophy-ethics
society-governance
systems
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sustainable aviation fuel and electric planes exist in early forms but remain far more expensive than traditional jet fuel. Making clean flying both effective and affordable is still an open engineering and economic problem.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
making
haven
solved
make
air
travel
low-carbon
unaffordable
fuel
sustainable
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
way
climate-environment
affordable
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many major rivers and aquifers are being pumped or diverted faster than rainfall can replenish them, threatening long-term water security. Without better management, some regions may simply run out of accessible fresh water.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
rivers
being
faster
stop
groundwater
drained
refill
water
major
aquifers
whether
philosophy-ethics
urban
don
long
asia
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Entire island nations and coastal communities face losing their homes permanently, with no agreed international process for where they go or who helps pay for it. This is already happening, not just a future risk.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
have
fair
way
relocate
people
displaced
rising
sea
levels
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Paved surfaces send rainwater rushing into drains that quickly overflow during storms, instead of letting it soak into the ground. Cities designed to absorb water naturally would suffer far less flood damage.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
cities
absorb
instead
haven
built
floodwater
being
destroyed
paved
surfaces
urban
water
african
infrastructure
systems
asia
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide in the short term, and much of it leaks unnoticed from pipelines and wells. Better detection and faster repairs could meaningfully slow near-term warming.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
methane
leaks
gas
track
reduce
oil
infrastructure
worldwide
far
potent
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
determine
don
have
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Droughts, floods, and shifting seasons are making traditional farming less reliable in many regions. Crops that can handle this unpredictability are essential to keeping global food supply stable.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
crops
don
have
resilient
enough
survive
increasingly
unpredictable
weather
patterns
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Cement production alone accounts for a huge share of global carbon emissions, yet it remains central to nearly all construction. A low-carbon alternative that's just as strong and cheap would be one of climate policy's biggest wins.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
carbon-emissions
cement
carbon
haven
found
affordable
substitute
doesn
release
production
alone
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
way
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Coral bleaching events are becoming more frequent as ocean temperatures rise, and restoration efforts are still small and slow. Without faster recovery methods, many reef ecosystems may not survive this century.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
coral
ocean
rebuild
reefs
fast
enough
keep
pace
warming
bleaching
whether
philosophy-ethics
near
protecting
marine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Hotter, drier conditions combined with decades of fire suppression have left forests primed to burn catastrophically. Managing this risk needs new approaches to land management, not just faster firefighting.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
have
don
way
stop
wildfires
growing
frequent
destructive
each
year
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fish farming was supposed to relieve pressure on wild fisheries, but many farms still rely on wild-caught fish for feed. A truly sustainable seafood system would need to break that dependency entirely.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
fish
seafood
wild
haven
figured
out
farm
collapsing
populations
farming
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
have
prevent
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Concrete and asphalt trap heat, turning cities into dangerous hot zones during extreme weather, especially for people without air conditioning. Redesigning cities to stay cooler is now a matter of public safety, not comfort.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
cities
people
during
heat
cool
enough
protect
increasingly
severe
waves
climate-environment
systems
urban
society-governance
haven
african
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Wealthy nations have historically emitted the most greenhouse gases, but poorer nations often suffer the worst climate damage. Without a fair cost-sharing system, climate justice remains mostly a talking point rather than a policy.
society-governance
global-unspecified
climate
nations
have
system
damage
don
fairly
share
cost
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
way
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Current recycling methods for batteries often use harsh chemicals or produce hazardous waste of their own. A cleaner recycling process would make the growing battery industry far more sustainable.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
batteries
waste
haven
solved
recycle
electronics
toxic
byproducts
recycling
current
systems
whether
philosophy-ethics
management
make
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
By the time illegal logging is discovered, the trees are often already gone and the damage is done. Real-time detection and enforcement could protect forests before, not after, they disappear.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
deforestation
illegal
time
yet
track
stop
happens
real
logging
discovered
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
society-governance
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Turning seawater into drinking water is technically possible but still too energy-intensive and expensive for many water-scarce regions. Cheaper desalination could solve water shortages for millions of people.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
seawater
drinking
don
have
reliable
way
desalinate
cheaply
enough
widespread
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
