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
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Microplastics likely reach Antarctic waters and ice via ocean currents and human activity, but data are sparse. Standardised sampling campaigns and analytical pipelines are required.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
antarctic
not
know
full
extent
microplastic
pollution
environments
microplastics
likely
global-unspecified
technology-computing
real
time
fully
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Warming may alter soil stability, hydrology, and microbial activity, affecting infrastructure and ecosystems. Long-term ground-temperature networks and modelling tools can track changes.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
changes
permafrost
active-layer
antarctic
soils
not
fully
monitored
warming
may
mathematics-logic
whether
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
society-governance
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Old ice archives can extend climate reconstructions, but drilling and analysis are costly and complex. Improved drilling technology and coordinated core-analysis programmes can unlock more data.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
ice
climate
antarctic
cores
hold
records
have
not
fully
exploited
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
data
under
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Antarctic sea-ice changes influence deep-water formation and global heat and carbon transport. Coupled observations and models are essential.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
not
fully
understand
feedbacks
between
sea
ice
ocean
stratification
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Shifted Southern Ocean dynamics could trigger large-scale circulation changes. High-resolution Earth-system models and sustained observations are needed.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
changes
ocean
circulation
not
know
antarctic
will
alter
thresholds
fully
global-unspecified
understand
ice
science-space
climate
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Surface meltwater can destabilise shelves in complex ways. Field experiments and high-fidelity models are needed.
science-space
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
not
fully
understand
thresholds
antarctic
ice-shelf
hydrofracture
surface
meltwater
destabilise
know
global-unspecified
matter
dark
actually
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Researchers keep finding creative ways to bypass safety filters built into AI systems, and defenses often lag behind the newest bypass techniques. This cat-and-mouse dynamic remains unresolved despite constant patching.
society-governance
global-unspecified
fully
prevent
models
being
tricked
generating
harmful
content
clever
prompting
whether
philosophy-ethics
systems
mathematics-logic
resolved
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Astronomical observations demand extra unseen mass, but candidate particles from extensions of the Standard Model remain undetected. New detector designs, astrophysical surveys, and theoretical models are needed to pin down its nature.
science-space
global-unspecified
not
know
dark
matter
actually
astronomical
observations
demand
extra
unseen
fully
what
understand
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Big Bang models suggest equal amounts of matter and antimatter, yet the observable Universe is dominated by matter. Precision measurements of CP violation and new physics at high energies could explain the imbalance.
science-space
global-unspecified
matter
antimatter
universe
origin
asymmetry
unresolved
big
bang
models
suggest
know
dark
fully
understand
actually
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Observations show billion-solar-mass black holes early in cosmic history, which standard growth models struggle to explain. Improved surveys of high-redshift quasars and simulations of direct-collapse scenarios are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
black
holes
not
fully
understand
supermassive
form
grow
observations
show
science-space
know
dark
matter
actually
what
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and stellar winds shape atmospheric escape and habitability, yet models remain approximate. Continuous monitoring and improved magnetohydrodynamic simulations can refine predictions.
science-space
global-unspecified
space
weather
effects
planetary
atmospheres
not
fully
quantified
solar
flares
know
climate-environment
continuous
understand
dark
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Grand unified theories predict proton decay, yet experiments have not observed it. Larger underground detectors and longer observation times are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
not
proton
know
ultimately
decays
grand
unified
theories
predict
decay
whether
matter
fully
dark
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Oscillation experiments show mixing but leave ordering and scale uncertain. Next-generation beta-decay and cosmological probes can answer these questions.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
mass
scale
neutrino
hierarchy
absolute
not
fully
resolved
oscillation
experiments
society-governance
without
know
science-space
whether
philosophy-ethics
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Turbulence controls transport and heating but remains mathematically challenging. Laboratory plasma experiments and numerical advances are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
turbulence
not
fully
understand
astrophysical
plasmas
controls
transport
heating
but
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
know
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Their equation of state depends on poorly constrained nuclear physics at extreme densities. Multi-messenger observations of mergers and precise timing can narrow possibilities.
science-space
global-unspecified
structure
neutron-star
interiors
uncertain
equation
state
depends
poorly
constrained
nuclear
remain
fully
cosmic
know
detailed
dynamics
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Alternative theories predict deviations that current experiments are only beginning to probe. More sensitive tabletop experiments are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
lack
precise
experimental
tests
gravity
sub-millimeter
scales
experiments
alternative
theories
know
dark
matter
fully
understand
predict
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mechanisms behind superconductivity in cuprates and iron-based materials remain contested. Combined experimental and theoretical work is needed to unlock room-temperature materials.
science-space
global-unspecified
superconductivity
not
fully
understand
high-temperature
materials
mechanisms
behind
cuprates
iron-based
mathematics-logic
reuse
might
local
actors
economics-resources
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Observed exoplanet diversity challenges simple core-accretion models. High-resolution imaging of disks and improved simulations are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
models
disks
not
have
complete
planetary
formation
protoplanetary
observed
exoplanet
science-space
know
fully
whether
understand
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Dust growth, fragmentation, and migration shape planet formation but are complex. Combined observation and modeling efforts are needed.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
dust
lack
detailed
models
evolution
protoplanetary
disks
growth
fragmentation
migration
science-space
fully
climate-environment
formation
interstellar
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Galaxies stop forming stars due to feedback and environment, but mechanisms vary. Surveys across environments and redshifts can clarify.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
processes
governing
galaxy
quenching
not
fully
understood
galaxies
stop
forming
know
science-space
mathematics-logic
haven
whether
philosophy-ethics