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
This boolean satisfiability problem is central to computer science, and no efficient general method is known for solving every possible case quickly. It remains a benchmark problem for understanding computational complexity.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
haven
resolved
efficiently
determine
any
given
set
logical
statements
whether
know
philosophy-ethics
possible
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Certain constructions, like doubling a cube's volume using classical tools, were proven impossible, but a full classification of every possible constructible versus non-constructible case remains an evolving area. This connects ancient geometry with modern algebra.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
don
know
whether
set
numbers
never
precisely
constructed
only
compass
haven
possible
resolved
philosophy-ethics
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some games are proven to always end in a draw or a specific winner under perfect play, but for many complex games, this remains unresolved due to sheer computational scale. This unsolved area touches game theory, logic, and computer science.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
proven
game
draw
haven
whether
every
possible
strategy
complete
information
resolved
philosophy-ethics
know
mathematical
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
Some mathematical truths may be true but fundamentally unprovable within any given formal system, a possibility raised by Gödel's work but not fully mapped out for all classes of statements. This unresolved boundary shapes the philosophy of computation.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
true
given
don
know
whether
every
statement
whole
numbers
eventually
philosophy-ethics
haven
resolved
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
While specific solutions exist for certain rectangles, a full general theory predicting exactly which rectangles allow this kind of tiling remains incomplete. This puzzle blends recreational mathematics with serious combinatorics.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
haven
proven
whether
possible
always
tile
rectangle
perfectly
only
squares
know
resolved
philosophy-ethics
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sorting algorithms have been optimized extensively, but proving a true absolute lower bound across all possible sorting methods remains an unresolved question in computational theory. This affects the fundamental efficiency limits of computing.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
limits
haven
resolved
whether
number
steps
needed
sort
any
list
philosophy-ethics
know
mathematics-logic
possible
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gödel's incompleteness theorem confirms this for many systems, but fully mapping which systems are exempt, if any, from this limitation remains an open and active question. This continues to shape foundational debates in mathematical logic.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
don
know
whether
every
sufficiently
complex
logical
system
must
eventually
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
systems
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Physical laws impose some theoretical limits on computation speed and energy use, but the exact universal boundary, if one truly exists, remains unresolved. This connects computer science directly to fundamental physics.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
physical
computer
haven
proven
whether
there
maximum
limit
efficiently
any
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
know
possible
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
Arrow's Impossibility Theorem proved certain fairness conditions can't all hold at once for common voting systems, but the full landscape of tradeoffs across all possible systems remains an active research area. This has real implications for the design of democratic institutions.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
voting
fairness
don
know
whether
mathematically
create
completely
fair
systems
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The Continuum Hypothesis asks whether there's a size of infinity strictly between the countable and uncountable, and it has been shown to be independent of standard mathematical axioms. This unresolved question touches the very foundation of set theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
set
size
mathematical
haven
resolved
every
infinite
numbers
must
know
philosophy-ethics
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fair division problems become extremely complex once individual preferences differ, and general efficient solutions for many people remain incompletely understood. This connects mathematics to real-world negotiation and resource allocation.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
number
people
preferences
haven
proven
whether
always
possible
divide
cake
know
resolved
philosophy-ethics
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Despite extensive computation, no proof confirms whether these digits behave truly randomly forever or eventually reveal some hidden structure. This remains an open question bridging number theory and statistics.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
digits
number
don
know
well-known
mathematical
constants
like
euler
haven
philosophy-ethics
resolved
possible
every
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
Knot theory offers tools for identifying and classifying tangles, but calculating a guaranteed minimal ontangling path for every possible knot remains computationally unresolved. This connects abstract mathematics to physical intuition about rope and cords.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
every
possible
rope
minimal
haven
resolved
whether
tangle
idealized
mathematically
know
philosophy-ethics
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some modern proofs rely heavily on computer verification because they're too long or complex for any person to check by hand, raising open questions about whether shorter, purely human-verifiable proofs must always exist. This unresolved tension touches both mathematics and epistemology.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
computer
don
know
every
mathematical
proof
principle
shortened
version
philosophy-ethics
haven
resolved
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Palindromic and reversible primes show interesting patterns, but whether infinitely many exist across all number bases remains unconfirmed. This is one of many number-theoretic curiosities still lacking rigorous proof.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
prime
whether
infinitely
haven
proven
there
numbers
remain
you
reverse
know
possible
philosophy-ethics
resolved
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
While specific puzzle sizes have been fully solved computationally, generalizing the worst-case difficulty formula across all puzzle sizes remains an open combinatorial question. This links recreational mathematics with formal complexity theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
haven
resolved
exact
minimum
number
moves
required
solve
hardest
possible
whether
know
philosophy-ethics
every
mathematical
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