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
Complex systems in nature and mathematics often arise from remarkably simple starting rules, yet no unified theory fully explains or predicts when and how this complexity will emerge. This unresolved question bridges mathematics, physics, and biology.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
theory
fully
predicts
complexity
simple
rules
don
know
whether
possible
philosophy-ethics
haven
resolved
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
While average behavior is well understood statistically, predicting the exact factor count for any specific number without direct calculation remains fundamentally elusive. This unresolved question touches the probabilistic side of number theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
number
predicting
don
know
whether
possible
find
general
rule
exactly
haven
resolved
philosophy-ethics
every
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
The three-body problem famously resists the same clean, closed-form solutions available for two-body systems, and general long-term predictability for all such systems remains incompletely understood. This unresolved question connects pure mathematics directly to astrophysics.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
long-term
don
know
whether
possible
fully
predict
stability
any
mathematical
systems
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
society-governance
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
Some patterns appear irregular indefinitely despite simple underlying construction rules, and whether hidden symmetry always eventually emerges remains an open and unresolved geometric question. This connects to both pure mathematics and the study of natural patterns.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
geometric
simple
rules
eventually
hidden
symmetry
don
know
every
haven
resolved
philosophy-ethics
possible
mathematical
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
Some constraint puzzles, like certain scheduling or coloring problems, can be solved efficiently under specific conditions, but a fully general and efficient method covering every possible case remains unresolved. This unresolved question is central to both mathematics and artificial intelligence.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
artificial-intelligence
possible
efficient
method
every
constraint
don
know
whether
guarantee
solving
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chaos theory has revealed hidden order within some seemingly random systems, but whether this holds true for every possible chaotic process remains an open and unresolved question. This connects mathematics with physics, biology, and the philosophy of determinism.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
every
possible
process
chaotic
some
order
don
know
infinite
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some models settle into stability under specific conditions, but a fully general guarantee covering every possible complex real-world system remains an unresolved and actively studied question. This touches applied mathematics, physics, and systems theory broadly.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
guarantee
complex
real-world
system
don
know
whether
any
sufficiently
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Logical simplification techniques work well for many cases, but a fully general method guaranteed to simplify every possible logical structure remains unresolved. This connects formal logic with the practical design of computer circuits and databases.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
logical
every
possible
but
structure
don
know
whether
pattern
interconnected
resolved
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Scheduling problems appear throughout logistics and computing, and while efficient solutions exist for many specific cases, a fully general efficient method remains unresolved for the broader problem family. This unresolved question connects theoretical computer science with real-world efficiency.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
possible
efficient
fully
method
don
know
whether
guarantee
finding
best
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
haven
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Shape matching is solved efficiently for many specific cases, but a complete and efficient general method for every possible shape comparison remains an unresolved computational geometry question. This has real applications in computer vision and pattern recognition.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
whether
possible
general
efficient
method
don
know
construct
fully
determining
haven
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Information theory provides strong bounds on efficiency for many specific cases, but proving whether truly optimal encoding always exists for every possible scenario remains an unresolved theoretical question. This connects mathematics directly to modern data compression and communication.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
encoding
whether
every
possible
information
always
don
know
way
mathematically
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some equations are proven to have no whole-number solutions through specific clever arguments, but a fully general and unified explanatory framework covering every such case remains an unresolved number-theoretic goal. This continues to drive research into Diophantine equations.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
equations
framework
fully
have
solutions
don
know
whether
possible
construct
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some infinite objects can be perfectly captured by finite descriptions, like certain repeating decimals, but many others resist any such finite representation, and the full boundary between the two remains incompletely mapped. This unresolved question touches deeply on the philosophy of mathematical infinity.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
finite
infinite
mathematical
any
don
know
whether
every
possible
object
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some philosophical traditions argue meaningful experiences hold deeper value than accumulated possessions, while others see this distinction as less clear-cut than it first appears. This unresolved question shapes broader debates about consumerism and what truly constitutes a fulfilling life.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
value
experiences
possessions
life
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
know
haven
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Genuine altruism seems to require giving without expectation, yet human relationships often naturally involve some sense of reciprocal obligation. This unresolved tension complicates our understanding of charity, friendship, and generosity.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
generosity
don
know
fair
expect
gratitude
those
help
true
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many people unknowingly benefit from systems built on past or ongoing injustice, and it remains unclear how much responsibility passive beneficiaries bear for addressing that harm. This unresolved question underlies major debates about privilege and structural inequality.
society-governance
global-unspecified
benefit
haven
resolved
whether
humans
have
obligation
correct
injustices
personally
philosophy-ethics
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Unconditional love suggests acceptance regardless of behavior, yet moral responsibility seems to require holding loved ones accountable for genuine wrongdoing. This unresolved tension appears constantly in personal relationships and family dynamics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
love
behavior
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
possible
someone
resolved
know
haven
ethical
mathematics-logic