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
Lower back pain is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide, yet treatment for chronic cases still mostly focuses on symptom management rather than fixing underlying structural or nerve issues. A more definitive solution remains elusive.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
chronic
lower
back
pain
management
rather
fully
treat
relying
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The same virus or bacteria can cause mild illness in most people while triggering severe, sometimes life-threatening complications in others, and we still don't fully understand why. This gap makes predicting and preventing severe outcomes difficult.
health-biology
global-unspecified
people
severe
complications
haven
solved
some
develop
common
infections
recover
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Current treatments for multiple sclerosis can reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups but can't stop or reverse the underlying immune attack on the nervous system. A true cure remains an unmet goal after decades of research.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
multiple
sclerosis
yet
only
slow
its
progression
current
treatments
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
resolved
don
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, contributes to frailty and falls in older adults, and current treatments rely mainly on exercise and diet rather than addressing the underlying biological decline. A more direct medical solution remains undeveloped.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
muscle
loss
haven
found
way
prevent
comes
aging
age-related
known
whether
philosophy-ethics
health-biology
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chronic skin conditions often require lifelong management with creams and medications rather than a resolution of the underlying immune or genetic causes. A real cure, rather than continuous symptom control, remains unavailable.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
skin
conditions
management
yet
fully
treat
eczema
ongoing
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
resolved
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Existing treatments for hair loss can slow the process for some people but rarely reverse it completely, and the underlying biology of hair follicle loss isn't fully understood. A true prevention or reversal method remains undiscovered.
health-biology
global-unspecified
hair
loss
don
have
effective
way
prevent
caused
genetic
hormonal
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fertility treatments like IVF help many people conceive, but success rates still drop significantly with age due to biological factors that current medicine can't fully reverse. Understanding and addressing this decline remains incomplete.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
fertility
age
current
treatments
haven
solved
declines
ways
only
partially
whether
philosophy-ethics
health-biology
resolved
determine
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Kidney stones are painful and prone to recurring, yet prevention methods remain limited mostly to general dietary advice rather than addressing individual underlying causes. More targeted prevention could spare patients repeated painful episodes.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
kidney
stones
prone
reliably
prevent
recurrence
people
developing
painful
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
way
mathematics-logic
fully
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Patients sometimes continue to experience pain months or years after the original injury has healed, suggesting the nervous system itself has changed in ways doctors don't fully understand. Solving this could transform treatment for chronic pain conditions.
health-biology
global-unspecified
pain
has
fully
chronic
sometimes
injury
healed
yet
explain
persists
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Lung cancer screening guidelines are generally built around smoking history, but a meaningful share of cases occur in people who never smoked at all and often go undetected until later stages. Better screening approaches for this group remain underdeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
lung
cancer
people
never
smoked
don
have
scalable
way
detect
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
IBS causes chronic digestive discomfort for a significant portion of people worldwide, yet treatment options remain limited to symptom management rather than addressing root causes. The underlying biology is still not fully mapped out.
health-biology
global-unspecified
haven
found
reliable
cure
irritable
bowel
syndrome
affecting
large
share
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
determine
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Millions of people experience debilitating, unpredictable migraines that current treatments only partially control, and the underlying biological triggers remain incompletely understood. More precise treatment based on individual causes remains out of reach.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
migraines
people
haven
solved
chronic
affect
some
far
severely
others
philosophy-ethics
whether
health-biology
resolved
determine
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The constant ringing or buzzing sound of tinnitus affects millions of people, and current treatments mostly help patients cope rather than eliminate the underlying cause. A real cure remains undiscovered.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
tinnitus
people
haven
found
works
experience
constant
ringing
buzzing
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
mathematics-logic
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A large share of pregnancy loss has no clearly identifiable cause, leaving expecting parents without answers or ways to prevent it happening again. Understanding these unexplained cases remains a significant gap in reproductive medicine.
health-biology
global-unspecified
prevent
cases
cause
don
have
reliable
way
miscarriages
unknown
large
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Food allergies have been rising for reasons researchers still can't fully explain, and existing treatments mostly manage symptoms after exposure rather than removing the risk entirely. A true prevention or cure remains elusive.
health-biology
global-unspecified
fully
don
understand
some
people
develop
severe
allergic
reactions
foods
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Millions of people live with persistent, disabling fatigue that doctors struggle to diagnose clearly or treat effectively. The underlying biology remains poorly understood despite decades of patient reports.
health-biology
global-unspecified
fatigue
don
have
reliable
cure
chronic
syndrome
millions
people
live
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
way
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Conditions like long COVID and chronic Lyme disease affect some patients severely while others recover fully from the same initial infection. Understanding this difference could unlock treatments for currently unexplained chronic illness.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
some
illness
others
haven
solved
infections
turn
long-term
certain
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
fully
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The immune system destroys insulin-producing cells for reasons we don't fully understand, forcing patients into decades of careful daily management. A real cure would end this instead of just controlling it.
health-biology
global-unspecified
don
cure
management
have
type
diabetes
only
lifelong
insulin
immune
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
way
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Promises made to public workers decades ago about retirement benefits sometimes weren't matched with enough funding set aside to actually cover them. This leaves future governments facing financial strain that current officials often avoid addressing.
society-governance
global-unspecified
public
future
government
pension
systems
employees
countries
underfunded
relative
obligations
real
time
philosophy-ethics
whether
technology-computing
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
When judges' careers, safety, or institutional funding depend on staying in the government's good graces, their ability to rule impartially against powerful officials can be compromised. Protecting judicial independence from this kind of pressure remains an ongoing struggle.
society-governance
global-unspecified
pressure
ability
rule
against
government
constitutional
courts
some
countries
face
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
local
improving
determine