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
Chaotic systems are famously sensitive to initial conditions, and whether their long-term patterns can ever be fully captured by simpler predictive rules remains an unresolved question in dynamical systems theory. This has real implications for weather prediction and other complex natural systems.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
long-term
chaotic
rules
systems
haven
resolved
possible
always
predict
philosophy-ethics
know
society-governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Partition numbers grow in a complex, only partially understood way, and while excellent approximations exist, a complete exact predictive formula for all cases remains elusive. This continues to be an active area within combinatorics and number theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
number
partition
numbers
understood
haven
proven
whether
distinct
ways
any
know
possible
philosophy-ethics
resolved
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some proofs are famously long and complex, and it remains unknown whether shorter, more elegant proofs must always exist in principle, even if we haven't yet found them. This unresolved question touches on both mathematics and the philosophy of mathematical elegance.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
haven
whether
always
shorter
mathematical
long
resolved
possible
find
simpler
philosophy-ethics
know
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some infinite series have been solved exactly, revealing elegant connections to constants like pi, while many similar-looking series remain stubbornly unresolved. This ongoing challenge continues to drive research in mathematical analysis.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
series
infinite
mathematical
constants
haven
proven
whether
exact
value
certain
know
philosophy-ethics
resolved
possible
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
This long-standing conjecture claims there's always at least one prime number between any two consecutive perfect squares, and while verified extensively by computer, no general proof exists. Solving it would sharpen our understanding of prime distribution.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
there
conjecture
always
between
consecutive
perfect
squares
don
know
whether
haven
possible
every
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The three-body problem famously resists the same clean, closed-form solutions available for two-body systems, and general long-term predictability for all such systems remains incompletely understood. This unresolved question connects pure mathematics directly to astrophysics.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
long-term
don
know
whether
possible
fully
predict
stability
any
mathematical
systems
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
society-governance
open
United States, North America
Some proofs span thousands of pages or rely on massive computer verification, and whether complete, error-free confidence is ever truly achievable for such proofs remains a genuinely unresolved epistemological and mathematical question. This shapes ongoing debates about the future of mathematical certainty.
mathematics-logic
north-america
united-states
mathematical
proofs
whether
haven
resolved
possible
fully
efficiently
verify
correctness
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
know
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some sequences appear statistically uniform for extraordinarily long stretches before finally revealing subtle bias, and whether this always eventually happens remains an open question in number theory. This connects deeply to the study of pseudorandom number generation.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
eventually
bias
haven
proven
every
possible
infinite
sequence
generated
know
resolved
philosophy-ethics
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Statistical and mathematical tools can detect many kinds of patterns efficiently, but a fully general and guaranteed method covering every possible hidden pattern type remains an unresolved theoretical question. This connects pure mathematics with the practical challenges of modern data analysis.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
fully
method
hidden
patterns
pure
mathematical
analysis
haven
proven
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Habits often develop gradually without deliberate intention, raising questions about how much genuine responsibility a person bears for behavior they didn't consciously choose to cultivate. This unresolved question complicates debates over addiction and personal accountability.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
habits
over
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
possible
fully
resolved
know
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ethical frameworks that count future potential people equally can lead to counterintuitive conclusions about how we should prioritize resources today. This unresolved tension remains central to debates in population ethics and long-term policy planning.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
people
equally
future
don
know
whether
possible
justify
caring
hypothetical
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue refusing to forgive certain wrongs preserves a person's dignity and sense of justice, while others see prolonged resentment as ultimately corrosive rather than protective. This unresolved tension shapes how we understand forgiveness and self-respect.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
self-respect
rather
unresolved
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
hold
onto
grudges
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sometimes achieving broader social stability seems to require tolerating individual injustices in the short term, creating an unresolved ethical tension between collective and individual good. This tension appears in debates over transitional justice after conflict or political upheaval.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
individual
stability
over
justice
haven
figured
out
whether
possible
justify
resolved
know
determine
ethical
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Institutions are made up of changing individuals over time, making it unclear whether blame can meaningfully persist against the institution itself rather than the specific people responsible. This unresolved question complicates debates over long-term institutional accountability.
society-governance
global-unspecified
against
whether
institutions
individuals
haven
resolved
possible
justify
holding
grudges
philosophy-ethics
know
mathematics-logic
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
People change considerably over time, and it's unclear whether commitments made at an earlier, less informed stage of life should remain fully binding later on. This unresolved tension appears in debates over long-term vows, career paths, and personal commitments.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
people
made
less
don
have
resolved
way
determine
fair
haven
know
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue all intentional deception is equally wrong regardless of motive, while others believe compassionate lies deserve a fundamentally different ethical category. This unresolved tension remains central to debates on the ethics of honesty.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
lies
different
haven
resolved
whether
possible
justify
treating
certain
like
know
mathematics-logic
determine
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Concern about lasting impact or how one will be remembered can sometimes come at the expense of enjoying and prioritizing present-day happiness. This unresolved tension shapes how people balance long-term purpose with everyday contentment.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
present-day
don
know
whether
ethical
allow
pursuit
legacy
outweigh
genuine
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Life circumstances can change dramatically after a promise is made, and it's unclear how much this changed context should affect the moral weight of the original commitment. This unresolved tension appears in debates over long-term personal and professional commitments.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
made
life
circumstances
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
know
haven
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Civil disobedience has a long history, but philosophers still debate exactly what conditions make lawbreaking morally justified rather than simply self-serving. This question remains central to movements for social change.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
have
agreed-upon
way
determine
ethical
break
unjust
law
civil
whether
resolved
agreed
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If value is tied only to usefulness, this raises uncomfortable implications for how we treat people who can no longer contribute to society. Resolving this question remains foundational to debates on dignity and human rights.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
value
whether
its
human
usefulness
don
know
life
has
inherent
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
possible