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 lower bounds on computational efficiency are proven for specific tasks, but a fully unified theory covering every possible algorithmic problem remains unresolved. This unresolved question shapes the outer limits of computer science.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
don
know
whether
there
maximum
theoretical
limit
efficiently
any
sorting
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
possible
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Game theory has solved many two-player scenarios completely, but multiplayer games with shifting alliances and incomplete information remain far less understood in full generality. This unresolved question has real implications for economics and political strategy.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
strategy
multiplayer
games
don
know
whether
every
possible
complex
reduced
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gödel's theorems already limit what's possible here for sufficiently powerful systems, but the full landscape of alternative systems and their limitations remains an active and unresolved area of mathematical logic. This continues to shape our understanding of the foundations of mathematics itself.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
mathematical
haven
determined
whether
build
truly
complete
consistent
system
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
This long-standing conjecture claims there's always at least one prime number between any two consecutive perfect squares, and while verified extensively by computer, no general proof exists. Solving it would sharpen our understanding of prime distribution.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
there
conjecture
always
between
consecutive
perfect
squares
don
know
whether
haven
possible
every
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Combinatorial geometry problems like this remain partially solved for specific shapes and configurations, but a fully general guarantee across all possible line arrangements is still unproven. This connects visual intuition with rigorous mathematical guarantees.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
like
specific
haven
resolved
whether
every
finite
set
straight
lines
know
possible
philosophy-ethics
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Certain classes of expressions can be checked for equivalence efficiently, but a fully general and guaranteed method covering every possible mathematical expression remains unresolved. This unresolved question has real consequences for automated theorem proving and symbolic computation.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
possible
mathematical
expressions
haven
proven
always
determine
only
finite
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Various conjectures link the number of prime factors a number has to specific patterns of behavior, but many of these connections remain only partially proven. This continues to be explored within analytic number theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
number
prime
factors
has
don
know
whether
exact
minimum
distinct
haven
possible
every
resolved
philosophy-ethics
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Economic models often assume equilibrium is reachable under certain conditions, but proving this holds true across every possible complex real-world scenario remains mathematically incomplete. This connects pure mathematics directly to economic theory.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
every
possible
mathematically
equilibrium
haven
resolved
whether
strategy
resource-limited
economy
mathematics-logic
know
philosophy-ethics
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Modern cryptography largely depends on problems assumed, but not proven, to be computationally hard, leaving a theoretical gap in fully guaranteed security. This unresolved foundation underlies much of digital security today.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
don
know
whether
possible
construct
truly
unbreakable
code
only
mathematical
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The Prime Number Theorem offers an excellent approximation, but the finer details of exactly how actual prime counts deviate from this smooth prediction remain tied to the still-unproven Riemann Hypothesis. Fully resolving this would refine one of number theory's most central results.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
number
smooth
approximation
haven
proven
whether
primes
below
any
given
know
possible
every
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fair division theory has strong results for two-party negotiations, but multi-party fairness guarantees become significantly harder to prove in full generality. This unresolved area connects mathematics with real-world conflict resolution.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
fair
don
know
whether
mathematically
possible
guarantee
perfectly
outcome
any
philosophy-ethics
haven
resolved
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Random graph theory offers probabilistic guarantees for many structures, but proving certainty, rather than high likelihood, for every possible case remains an unresolved and active research area. This affects our understanding of networks in biology, technology, and social systems.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
every
haven
resolved
whether
sufficiently
large
randomly
generated
network
must
philosophy-ethics
know
possible
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some optimization problems are proven solvable efficiently, others proven intractable, but a complete boundary map covering every conceivable variation remains incomplete. This unresolved question is central to computational complexity theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
boundary
solvable
optimization
every
don
know
whether
exact
between
unsolvable
resolved
haven
philosophy-ethics
possible
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Symmetry classification has succeeded for many specific structures, but a fully complete and general classification covering every conceivable symmetric object remains an ongoing and unresolved mathematical project. This shapes foundational research in group theory and geometry.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
fully
every
mathematical
object
remains
haven
determined
whether
characterize
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Formal proof systems capture enormous portions of mathematical reasoning, but whether a truly complete and finite rule set exists for absolutely every valid form of proof remains philosophically and technically unresolved. This touches the very foundations of what mathematics is capable of expressing.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
proof
whether
complete
finite
set
every
valid
mathematical
haven
resolved
know
philosophy-ethics
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many geometric constants have been linked to constants like pi through elegant proofs, but numerous others remain isolated without any confirmed deeper connection. This unresolved gap continues to intrigue mathematicians working in geometry and analysis.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
constants
geometry
have
connection
haven
proven
whether
every
mathematical
constant
resolved
philosophy-ethics
know
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ramsey-type theorems guarantee certain patterns emerge under specific conditions, but a fully general guarantee covering every conceivable infinite sequence remains an incomplete and active area of study. This connects deeply to combinatorics and the philosophy of mathematical order.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
every
infinite
mathematical
sequence
specific
don
know
whether
possible
must
haven
resolved
philosophy-ethics
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Additive combinatorics explores these kinds of guaranteed substructure questions extensively, but many specific cases remain without a fully general proof. This continues to be an active and evolving research area.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
property
specific
don
know
whether
every
finite
set
numbers
must
haven
philosophy-ethics
resolved
possible
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Probability theory offers strong predictive tools for many games, but a fully complete and general model covering every conceivable game of chance remains theoretically unresolved. This touches both pure mathematics and the philosophy of randomness.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
complete
model
every
game
chance
haven
proven
whether
construct
know
resolved
philosophy-ethics
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many famous fractals are built from simple recursive rules, but whether every possible fractal pattern can always be reduced to such a finite description remains an open mathematical question. This connects geometry, computer science, and the study of natural patterns.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
every
possible
fractal
pattern
finite
simple
rules
haven
determined
know
resolved
philosophy-ethics
mathematical