World Solve

Decision-makers lack integrated, high-resolution models of ocean chemistry, biology, currents, and human activity. The open problem is building trustworthy systems that support decisions without creating false confidence from incomplete data. The solution must produce useful coordination and accountability while minimizing collection of sensitive personal and behavioral data. The research opportunity is to define measurable success criteria, test the approach in realistic settings, identify failure modes, and create a pathway from prototype to accountable deployment.

Decision-makers lack integrated, high-resolution models of ocean chemistry, biology, currents, and human activity. The open problem is building trustworthy systems that support decisions without creating false confidence from incomplete data. The design must remain functional when standards, trade routes, data access, and diplomatic cooperation are unreliable. The research opportunity is to define measurable success criteria, test the approach in realistic settings, identify failure modes, and create a pathway from prototype to accountable deployment.

Decision-makers lack integrated, high-resolution models of ocean chemistry, biology, currents, and human activity. The open problem is building trustworthy systems that support decisions without creating false confidence from incomplete data. The solution must work with limited capital, intermittent services, and local maintenance capacity. The research opportunity is to define measurable success criteria, test the approach in realistic settings, identify failure modes, and create a pathway from prototype to accountable deployment.

Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving poor people paying a higher share of their income in tax. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.

Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving high crime rates in many cities. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.

The problem of high rates of anemia in women continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.

Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving high rates of adolescent pregnancy. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.

Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving high burden of heart disease. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.

Green spaces that close areas after detecting high ambient sorrow reduce access for those who most need nature. The challenge is supporting ecological recovery without excluding people during emotional difficulty.

The problem of high rates of early school leaving continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.

Roadways that shrink in real time based on predicted density can trap pedestrians and restrict access. The problem is managing crowd flow without creating physical bottlenecks that endanger people or exclude those with mobility needs.

unacceptably high suicide rates in many regions remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.

continued high burden of malaria remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.

If pets can be induced to shift attachment based on economic offers, the human-animal bond becomes a marketable asset. The problem is protecting enduring relationships from commercial override while still allowing rehoming under genuine welfare conditions.

Addressing high vehicle emissions damaging health and climate is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.

Climate events, cyberattacks, and conflict can demand action faster than standard legislative processes allow. The open problem is creating emergency authorities with strong checks, expiration rules, and public review. This becomes particularly difficult in informal settlements, because public institutions must remain fair, resilient, and accountable while adapting to new risks.

Metering park entry according to measured oxygen use could exclude people with higher metabolic needs or certain health conditions. The challenge is creating inclusive green-space access rules that still manage environmental impact without turning basic recreation into a health-based barrier.

Large quantum computers may require specialized materials, cooling systems, and high-energy facilities. Their lifecycle impact, component reuse, and end-of-life management are not yet adequately designed. The solution must work with limited capital, intermittent services, and local maintenance capacity. The research opportunity is to define measurable success criteria, test the approach in realistic settings, identify failure modes, and create a pathway from prototype to accountable deployment.

Private companies may increasingly run water, transport, energy, communication, and housing systems with public consequences. The open problem is designing regulation that ensures reliability, accountability, and public recourse when essential services fail. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where legacy systems, coordination failures, and weak oversight can magnify harm.

Quantum randomness could improve high-stakes public processes, but its value depends on independently verifiable hardware, transparent protocols, and protection against manipulation at the measurement and software layers. The solution must work with limited capital, intermittent services, and local maintenance capacity. The research opportunity is to define measurable success criteria, test the approach in realistic settings, identify failure modes, and create a pathway from prototype to accountable deployment.