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.
Publicly citable
Every problem has a stable citation code for reference and discussion.
Filtered by relevance
Search by category, geography, status, and keywords.
Builder-oriented
Use the repository to find startup ideas, policy leads, and research agendas.
4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
While kinetic impactors work against predictable asteroids, long-period comets can appear with less than a year's warning. Rapid-response high-yield interception systems are needed to protect Earth from unexpected impacts.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
have
proven
way
divert
planet-threatening
comet
short-notice
trajectory
while
kinetic
systems
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
don
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Shipping structural habitat materials from Earth is cost-prohibitive. We must develop 3D-sintering or concrete binder technologies that use local soil to withstand vacuum pressure and severe thermal cycling.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
have
proven
way
construct
durable
air-tight
habitats
out
raw
lunar
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
don
determine
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Multi-year missions introduce sensory deprivation, communication delays, and high stress among crew members. Biomarker tracking, behavioral software, and crew dynamics protocols are needed to preserve mental health.
science-space
global-unspecified
mental-health
long-term
human
isolation
confined
space
environments
leads
severe
psychological
friction
mental
health
support
missions
medical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gravitational clustering of trans-Neptunian objects suggests an unseen massive planet beyond Pluto. Deep wide-field survey software and ultra-sensitive infrared observatories are required to pinpoint its coordinates.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
planet
have
not
definitively
located
hypothetical
nine
outer
solar
system
whether
know
don
philosophy-ethics
determine
science-space
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Primary mirrors for space telescopes cannot exceed launch vehicle dimensions without complex, failure-prone mechanical folding. Dynamic fluidic mirrors and membrane optics created in orbit offer a promising alternative.
science-space
global-unspecified
space
deploying
large
optical
apertures
limited
rocket
payload
size
weight
philosophy-ethics
whether
earth
determine
agreed
lack
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chemical lithium-hydroxide canisters are consumable, heavy, and wasteful for multi-year missions. Algae photo-bioreactors capable of converting human exhaled CO2 directly into oxygen and edible protein are required.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
human
lack
closed-loop
biological
carbon
dioxide
scrubbers
spacecraft
cabins
chemical
society-governance
solutions
long
mathematics-logic
science-space
term
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mars (0.38g) and the Moon (0.16g) have partial gravity levels whose long-term impact on embryo development is completely unknown. Ground-based and orbital partial-gravity mammalian centrifuges are required.
society-governance
global-unspecified
mammalian
development
partial
gravity
not
know
gestation
safely
occur
mars
mathematics-logic
whether
philosophy-ethics
fully
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Closed space station biomes combined with radiation select for rapid bacterial mutation, risking astronaut health. Autonomous metagenomic sequencing systems must continuously monitor station surfaces for bio-threats.
science-space
global-unspecified
drug-resistant
station
monitor
space
cannot
long-term
microbial
mutations
yield
multi-drug
resistant
systems
support
missions
medical
psychological
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
While microgravity (0g) is well-studied, long-term multi-generational plant reproduction under lunar (0.16g) or Martian (0.38g) gravity is unverified. Long-term surface greenhouse experiments are urgently needed.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
long-term
gravity
plant
not
know
biological
effects
fractional
growth
seed
long
term
systems
whether
society-governance
philosophy-ethics
Subsidized electricity for agricultural tube wells has caused deep water tables across Northern India and Northern China to collapse, threatening domestic drinking supplies and long-term agricultural survival.
local-regional
asia
india
agricultural
caused
haven
reversed
severe
aquifer
depletion
unmetered
groundwater
extraction
climate-environment
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
prevent
Rapid installation of solar and wind capacity in countries like Vietnam and India frequently faces grid curtailment because high-voltage transmission lines and grid-scale battery storage are insufficiently developed.
climate-environment
asia
india
developed
grid
haven
scalable
architectures
integrate
intermittent
renewable
power
aging
global-unspecified
solar
energy
local-regional
whether
Asia operates hundreds of young, high-emitting coal plants protected by long-term power purchase agreements. Early retirement initiatives face severe financial losses and political resistance from domestic energy sectors.
health-biology
asia
indonesia
financial
power
plants
early
haven
created
workable
transition
mechanisms
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
technology-computing
way
Protected natural areas lack consistent funding for park rangers, anti-poaching technology, and community co-management, leaving critical biodiversity hot-spots vulnerable to illegal logging and agricultural encroachment.
climate-environment
asia
indonesia
biodiversity
haven
structured
sustainable
financing
mechanisms
long-term
preservation
asean
heritage
global-unspecified
hotspots
term
long
philosophy-ethics
Migrant workers moving across regional trade corridors lose accrued pension contributions and social coverage when returning home, eroding long-term financial security.
economics-resources
asia
nepal
social
security
haven
created
cross-border
portability
benefits
intra-asian
economic
migrants
workers
global-unspecified
informal
technology-computing
african
Traditional drought-resistant seed varieties are disappearing as farmers adopt commercial hybrid seeds, eroding genetic resilience against long-term climate shocks.
climate-environment
asia
indonesia
biodiversity
against
commercial
seed
haven
successfully
preserved
native
crop
monoculture
climate
varieties
income
products
shocks
Rising sea levels submerge shallow freshwater lenses beneath coral atolls, forcing island communities to rely entirely on variable rainwater harvesting.
climate-environment
asia
maldives
freshwater
coral
haven
secured
long-term
availability
low-lying
atoll
nations
facing
protecting
aquifers
saltwater
intrusion
bleaching
Rapid population growth outpaces formal job creation, forcing university graduates into low-productivity informal sector roles or long-term underemployment.
economics-resources
asia
philippines
formal
haven
created
pathways
economic
integration
millions
young
people
entering
informal
global-unspecified
settlements
youth
africa
Financial intermediaries charge high transfer fees on small money transfers sent home by low-income migrant workers, stripping billions from vulnerable households.
economics-resources
asia
philippines
fees
migrant
workers
haven
eliminated
predatory
cross-border
remittance
charged
overseas
technology-computing
global-unspecified
informal
health-biology
countries
Developing Asian countries spend more on servicing foreign debt than on climate adaptation. International financial institutions have not scaled debt swaps effectively.
climate-environment
asia
sri-lanka
debt
asian
haven
created
debt-for-climate
swap
mechanisms
significantly
relieve
sovereign
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
Lack of employment options leads coastal villagers to use home-made explosives for fishing, destroying coral reefs for short-term yield.
economics-resources
asia
philippines
coastal
fishing
haven
provided
alternative
livelihoods
communities
dependent
destructive
blast
climate-environment
global-unspecified
near
african
lack
