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
Major commercial shipping ports across Southeast Asia lack elevated breakwaters and storm protection, risking catastrophic supply chain disruptions.
climate-environment
asia
vietnam
supply-chain
storm
haven
built
climate-hardened
port
infrastructure
resilient
1-in-100-year
surge
projections
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
economics-resources
Drained peat soils ignite during dry El Niño years, creating subterranean fires that burn for months, releasing enormous carbon emissions and toxic transboundary haze.
climate-environment
asia
indonesia
carbon-emissions
carbon
haven
secured
peatland
fire
suppression
networks
stop
annual
catastrophic
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
Millions of pre-trial detainees languish in overcrowded prisons for years due to acute judicial vacancy rates and outdated paper-based case management.
society-governance
asia
pakistan
judicial
case
haven
sped
extreme
backlogs
lower-court
legal
systems
millions
technology-computing
global-unspecified
whether
grievance
philosophy-ethics
Frequent regional network shutdowns in conflict zones prevent students from accessing digital schools, causing years of lost education.
social-civic-problems
asia
myanmar
education-access
digital
education
shutdowns
haven
provided
continuous
access
during
protracted
political
technology-computing
global-unspecified
low
african
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some infants experience repeated, severe respiratory infections in their first years of life despite preventive measures, and current understanding of why this happens in certain babies remains incomplete. Better prevention for this vulnerable group remains needed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
infants
severe
respiratory
infections
yet
fully
prevent
recurrence
bronchiolitis
prone
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Celiac disease can present with subtle or unusual symptoms that delay diagnosis for years in some patients, allowing ongoing intestinal damage to occur. Better, more accessible screening for atypical cases remains an unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
celiac
disease
patients
symptoms
atypical
haven
solved
detect
earlier
whose
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
mathematics-logic
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
High blood pressure can silently damage the kidneys over years before any symptoms appear, and by the time damage is detected, it's often already significant. Earlier, more sensitive detection methods remain an unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
damage
high
blood
pressure
don
have
reliable
way
detect
early
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Subtle cognitive changes often precede a formal dementia diagnosis by years, but current screening tools aren't sensitive enough to reliably catch this earliest stage. Better early detection could open the door to earlier, more effective intervention.
health-biology
global-unspecified
early
cognitive
haven
found
reliable
way
detect
decline
adults
becomes
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sleep apnea, when left untreated for years, is linked to cognitive decline and other health issues, yet many cases go undiagnosed simply because symptoms are mistaken for normal fatigue. Earlier, more widespread detection remains an unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
cognitive
untreated
sleep
apnea
fully
prevent
long-term
effects
left
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Post-viral fatigue syndromes, including long COVID, leave some patients exhausted for months or years after the initial infection has cleared, and the biological mechanism remains unclear. Understanding this could unlock treatment for a currently poorly understood condition.
health-biology
global-unspecified
fatigue
long
yet
fully
explain
chronic
sometimes
follows
viral
infections
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
COPD gradually reduces lung function over years, and while treatment can ease symptoms and slow decline, it can't reverse the underlying lung damage. A cure remains out of reach for the millions living with this condition.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
slow
yet
chronic
obstructive
pulmonary
disease
only
its
progression
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
determine
way
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many people with chronic insomnia end up relying on sleep medication for years, since non-drug treatments don't work consistently for everyone. A more effective, sustainable solution remains an open need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
insomnia
medication
haven
found
reliable
way
treat
long-term
reliance
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
don
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Diabetes can lead to serious complications like blindness, kidney failure, or amputation, but predicting which patients are most at risk early enough to intervene remains imprecise. Better prediction could allow more targeted, effective prevention.
health-biology
global-unspecified
patients
complications
diabetes
yet
reliably
predict
will
develop
severe
years
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematics-logic
way
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
By the time visible symptoms of Parkinson's appear, significant neurological damage has usually already occurred, limiting how much treatment can help. Detecting the disease years earlier could open the door to more effective intervention.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
parkinson
disease
symptoms
appear
don
have
reliable
way
detect
physical
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
health-biology
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Kidney disease often advances silently for years before symptoms appear, and by the time it's caught, treatment options are limited mainly to slowing further decline. Catching and reversing it earlier remains an open medical challenge.
health-biology
global-unspecified
kidney
disease
don
have
reliable
way
prevent
progression
chronic
its
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
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
Many patients with endometriosis experience years of unexplained pain before receiving an accurate diagnosis, largely because it's difficult to detect without invasive procedures. Better, faster diagnostic tools remain a major unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
endometriosis
years
haven
solved
well
enough
stop
taking
diagnose
patients
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
mathematics-logic
determine
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Government budgets are often published as static yearly documents rather than something citizens can track as spending actually happens. Real-time transparency into public spending remains rare rather than standard.
society-governance
global-unspecified
citizens
actually
there
consistent
way
know
taxes
being
spent
real
public
philosophy-ethics
whether
time
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
In systems with many competing parties, forming a stable governing coalition can require compromises so broad that clear, decisive policy becomes difficult to achieve. This instability can leave important issues unresolved for years.
society-governance
global-unspecified
parties
coalitions
smaller
political
often
struggle
govern
effectively
due
constant
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
systems
haven
technology-computing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even when an agency is widely recognized as ineffective or wasteful, political and legal hurdles can keep it running largely unchanged for years. Faster institutional accountability mechanisms remain rare in most government systems.
society-governance
global-unspecified
legal
governments
often
lack
clear
fast
process
shutting
down
reforming
public
systems
whether
philosophy-ethics
technology-computing
resolved