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
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
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
Surface meltwater can destabilise shelves in complex ways. Field experiments and high-fidelity models are needed.
science-space
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
not
fully
understand
thresholds
antarctic
ice-shelf
hydrofracture
surface
meltwater
destabilise
know
global-unspecified
matter
dark
actually
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Astronomical observations demand extra unseen mass, but candidate particles from extensions of the Standard Model remain undetected. New detector designs, astrophysical surveys, and theoretical models are needed to pin down its nature.
science-space
global-unspecified
not
know
dark
matter
actually
astronomical
observations
demand
extra
unseen
fully
what
understand
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Big Bang models suggest equal amounts of matter and antimatter, yet the observable Universe is dominated by matter. Precision measurements of CP violation and new physics at high energies could explain the imbalance.
science-space
global-unspecified
matter
antimatter
universe
origin
asymmetry
unresolved
big
bang
models
suggest
know
dark
fully
understand
actually
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Observations show billion-solar-mass black holes early in cosmic history, which standard growth models struggle to explain. Improved surveys of high-redshift quasars and simulations of direct-collapse scenarios are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
black
holes
not
fully
understand
supermassive
form
grow
observations
show
science-space
know
dark
matter
actually
what
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and stellar winds shape atmospheric escape and habitability, yet models remain approximate. Continuous monitoring and improved magnetohydrodynamic simulations can refine predictions.
science-space
global-unspecified
space
weather
effects
planetary
atmospheres
not
fully
quantified
solar
flares
know
climate-environment
continuous
understand
dark
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Turbulence controls transport and heating but remains mathematically challenging. Laboratory plasma experiments and numerical advances are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
turbulence
not
fully
understand
astrophysical
plasmas
controls
transport
heating
but
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
know
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Microscopic laws are time-symmetric, yet macroscopic phenomena exhibit irreversibility. Deeper understanding of entropy and quantum measurement could help.
science-space
global-unspecified
nature
time
arrow
fundamental
physics
remains
debated
microscopic
laws
time-symmetric
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
yet
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Alternative theories predict deviations that current experiments are only beginning to probe. More sensitive tabletop experiments are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
lack
precise
experimental
tests
gravity
sub-millimeter
scales
experiments
alternative
theories
know
dark
matter
fully
understand
predict
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mechanisms behind superconductivity in cuprates and iron-based materials remain contested. Combined experimental and theoretical work is needed to unlock room-temperature materials.
science-space
global-unspecified
superconductivity
not
fully
understand
high-temperature
materials
mechanisms
behind
cuprates
iron-based
mathematics-logic
reuse
might
local
actors
economics-resources
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Observed exoplanet diversity challenges simple core-accretion models. High-resolution imaging of disks and improved simulations are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
models
disks
not
have
complete
planetary
formation
protoplanetary
observed
exoplanet
science-space
know
fully
whether
understand
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Timing and sources of reionization remain uncertain. 21cm experiments and high-z galaxy observations can map it.
science-space
global-unspecified
reionization
not
fully
understand
cosmic
history
timing
sources
remain
uncertain
know
matter
actually
dark
what
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Long-term low-dose exposure impacts cells and tissues in complex ways. Space biology experiments can inform health protocols.
science-space
global-unspecified
space
not
fully
understand
radiation
affects
biological
systems
deep
long-term
whether
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
society-governance
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Misinformation and politicization hinder action. Communication strategies and education can improve literacy.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
public
understanding
climate
science
varies
widely
misinformation
politicization
hinder
action
society-governance
climate-environment
improve
institutional
under
migration
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mining plans advance without full understanding. Baseline research is essential.
society-governance
global-unspecified
data
deep-sea
ecosystems
limited
mining
plans
advance
full
understanding
baseline
technology-computing
whether
philosophy-ethics
systems
african
mathematics-logic
As mobile money adoption accelerates, many new users lack understanding of digital fraud risks and responsible borrowing. Simple, localized financial-literacy content delivered via mobile apps could reduce financial harm.
technology-computing
asia
digital
financial
literacy
remains
low
among
newly
banked
populations
rural
global-unspecified
african
social-civic-problems
access
africa
Many SMEs adopt digital payment and e-commerce tools without understanding basic security practices, exposing them to fraud. Simple, affordable cybersecurity training programs tailored for small businesses could reduce losses.
technology-computing
asia
cybersecurity
small
businesses
digital
awareness
among
growing
economy
remains
global-unspecified
african
low
whether
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Dark energy accounts for roughly 68% of the universe, yet its equation of state and microscopic nature remain complete mysteries. Precise mapping of cosmic expansion over time is crucial for predicting the ultimate fate of space-time.
science-space
global-unspecified
expansion
universe
dark
energy
exact
cause
accelerating
unknown
accounts
roughly
know
understand
mathematics-logic
matter
fully
whether
open
United States, North America
The Coronal Heating Problem violates intuition: the outer solar atmosphere reaches millions of degrees while the surface is ~5,500°C. Solving this requires understanding magnetic reconnection and Alfvén wave dissipation mechanisms.
climate-environment
north-america
united-states
solar
surface
corona
thousands
times
hotter
sun
don
know
coronal
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
mathematics-logic