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
Formulas exist for degrees up to four, but general algebraic solutions for higher degrees don't exist in the same closed form, leaving open questions about alternative methods. This shapes ongoing research in both pure and computational algebra.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
general
haven
determined
whether
there
exists
efficient
algorithm
solving
all
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
know
possible
resolved
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Irrational numbers have infinite, non-repeating digits, and while we can calculate them to enormous precision, no simple predictive pattern for their exact sequence has been found. This touches on deep unresolved questions in number theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
pattern
digits
irrational
numbers
haven
determined
whether
possible
find
predicting
know
resolved
philosophy-ethics
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
This problem, part of a broader family of questions in combinatorial geometry, has known bounds but no exact general formula for every configuration. Solving it would refine our understanding of how simple geometric constraints shape complex arrangements.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
exact
haven
determined
smallest
number
unit
distances
must
repeat
among
whether
know
possible
every
resolved
philosophy-ethics
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
This is the famous Halting Problem, proven impossible to solve in full generality, yet many partial and practical questions around predicting program behavior remain actively studied. This shapes the theoretical limits of what computers can ever determine about themselves.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
program
whether
determine
don
know
possible
build
computer
always
any
haven
resolved
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Finding the shortest possible route through many locations becomes exponentially harder as the number of locations grows, and no efficient exact solution is known for all cases. This unresolved question sits at the heart of computational optimization theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
efficient
haven
determined
whether
there
way
solve
every
instance
traveling
know
possible
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Graph theory offers many partial answers about guaranteed patterns within large networks, but a fully general and complete theory covering every possible network structure remains incomplete. This affects our understanding of everything from social networks to biological systems.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
every
network
haven
determined
whether
sufficiently
complex
connections
must
always
possible
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
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
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
Some cellular automata, like simple grid-based rule systems, produce behavior so complex that no shortcut prediction method has been proven to exist beyond simply running the simulation. This unresolved question touches on computational irreducibility and the philosophy of prediction.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
complex
cellular
shortcut
haven
determined
whether
possible
perfectly
predict
outcome
know
mathematics-logic
resolved
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Games involving bluffing or incomplete knowledge, like certain card games, resist the same clean mathematical solutions available for games of complete information. This unresolved question remains central to advanced game theory research.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
game
information
hidden
games
haven
determined
whether
every
possible
strategy
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Reconstruction problems in geometry ask how much partial information is truly enough to rebuild a full shape with certainty, and general limits for all shape classes remain incompletely understood. This connects pure mathematics to practical fields like imaging and tomography.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
shape
haven
determined
whether
every
finite
geometric
always
perfectly
reconstructed
know
resolved
possible
philosophy-ethics
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Self-referential paradoxes have challenged logicians for over a century, and while specific paradoxes have been addressed with targeted fixes, no single unified framework has resolved every possible version. This unresolved tension remains central to the foundations of mathematical logic.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
resolved
every
possible
haven
whether
logical
paradox
fully
neutralized
some
philosophy-ethics
know
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
While many algebraic structures have been classified, some corners of abstract algebra still lack a fully confirmed and complete classification of their most basic components. This ongoing effort shapes the foundations of modern algebraic research.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
fully
complete
algebra
haven
determined
whether
possible
construct
list
every
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
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
Self-referential systems often run into paradoxes, and while specific fixes exist for particular cases, no fully general and complete solution has been proven for every possible self-describing system. This unresolved tension remains central to mathematical logic and computer science.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
every
mathematical
fully
haven
determined
whether
sufficiently
complex
language
unambiguously
philosophy-ethics
resolved
possible
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Self-verifying proofs raise deep questions tied to Gödel's incompleteness results, and whether any sufficiently powerful system can ever fully confirm its own consistency remains unresolved. This continues to shape foundational debates in mathematical logic.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
mathematical
its
own
any
system
haven
determined
possible
construct
resolved
philosophy-ethics
know
every
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
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Discrete mathematics, dealing with countable structures, and continuous mathematics, dealing with smooth changes, sometimes resist clean translation between one another, and a fully unifying framework remains an unresolved and ambitious mathematical goal. This touches the deepest foundations of how mathematics is structured.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
mathematics
mathematical
framework
fully
discrete
continuous
haven
determined
whether
possible
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Specific techniques exist for counting solutions in many cases, but a complete and general method covering every possible polynomial system remains an unresolved goal in algebraic geometry. This continues to be an active area of mathematical research.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
general
method
solutions
system
polynomial
haven
determined
whether
construct
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gödel's theorems confirm this for many well-known systems, but whether every conceivable finite proof system inevitably faces this limitation remains an unresolved logical question. This continues to shape foundational research into the nature of formal systems.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
every
finite
proof
system
haven
determined
mathematical
must
eventually
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
possible