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
Current malaria prevention still depends heavily on physical barriers and insecticides, both of which face growing resistance and logistical challenges in the regions most affected. A more durable prevention method remains an urgent unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
malaria
haven
found
widely
available
way
prevent
transmission
relying
primarily
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A minor injury sometimes triggers long-lasting chronic pain in some patients while similar injuries fully resolve in others, and the biological reason for this difference isn't fully understood. Solving this could improve treatment for a wide range of chronic pain conditions.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
fully
chronic
pain
some
conditions
minor
injuries
yet
explain
people
philosophy-ethics
whether
health-biology
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Recurrent tonsillitis in children often leads to tonsil removal because non-surgical prevention methods aren't reliably effective. A less invasive way to prevent recurrence remains undeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
effective
way
prevent
recurrence
tonsillitis
don
have
resorting
surgery
cases
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Postpartum anxiety is common but often overlooked compared to postpartum depression, leaving many new parents without adequate screening or treatment. Closing this awareness and treatment gap remains an unmet need in maternal healthcare.
health-biology
global-unspecified
maternal-health
postpartum
anxiety
depression
haven
solved
detect
treat
effectively
treatment
common
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many parts of the world have extremely few mental health professionals relative to their population, leaving most people with mental health needs entirely unsupported. Solving this requires new models of care delivery, not just more funding.
health-biology
global-unspecified
mental-health
mental
health
have
professionals
don
scalable
way
provide
support
regions
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Lifestyle interventions can reduce risk for some people, but a meaningful share of high-risk individuals still develop type 2 diabetes despite following recommended prevention advice. A more effective, individualized prevention approach remains needed.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
type
diabetes
high-risk
individuals
haven
found
reliable
way
prevent
development
whether
resolved
health-biology
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some people who die of sudden cardiac events had no known risk factors or warning signs beforehand, suggesting current screening methods miss a meaningful share of at-risk individuals. Better detection tools for this group remain an open need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
signs
people
risk
factors
haven
solved
detect
early
heart
disease
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
way
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some patients experience persistent, unexplained itching with no identifiable skin problem, kidney issue, or other clear cause, making treatment largely trial and error. Understanding the underlying mechanism remains incomplete.
health-biology
global-unspecified
itching
skin
yet
fully
explain
chronic
sometimes
occurs
any
visible
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A portion of shingles patients develop long-term nerve pain, known as postherpetic neuralgia, that persists long after the rash has healed. Preventing this complication before it develops remains an incomplete area of treatment.
health-biology
global-unspecified
pain
shingles
yet
fully
prevent
chronic
sometimes
follows
infections
portion
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Current prostate cancer screening can miss dangerous cancers or flag ones that would never have caused harm, leading to unnecessary treatment in some cases and missed cancers in others. A more precise screening method remains an unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
have
prostate
cancer
don
widely
available
way
screen
avoids
both
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Hospitals with limited resources for sterile equipment and infection control see higher rates of post-surgical infections than better-equipped facilities. Closing this gap requires both medical and infrastructure solutions that remain incomplete in many regions.
health-biology
global-unspecified
infections
haven
solved
prevent
surgical
site
resource-limited
hospital
settings
hospitals
whether
philosophy-ethics
solutions
society-governance
way
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some patients with autoimmune diseases experience unexplained periods of remission without clear treatment causes, while others never do. Understanding this could reveal new treatment pathways currently hidden within the body's own natural mechanisms.
health-biology
global-unspecified
some
autoimmune
remission
own
while
others
yet
fully
explain
conditions
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chronic dry eye can be persistent and uncomfortable, and while treatments exist, many patients don't find lasting relief from current options. A more effective, longer-lasting treatment remains an unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
don
effective
chronic
dry
eye
have
way
treat
syndrome
significant
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chronic malnutrition in early childhood can cause lasting physical and cognitive effects that are difficult to reverse later in life. Preventing this before it happens remains far more effective, and far less solved, than treating it afterward.
health-biology
global-unspecified
solved
haven
prevent
malnutrition-related
stunting
children
food-insecure
regions
far
chronic
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Low-grade chronic inflammation is linked to numerous diseases, yet in many patients there's no clear infection or injury explaining why it continues. Understanding this could unlock treatments for a wide range of related conditions.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
chronic
inflammation
fully
explain
persists
some
people
obvious
ongoing
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Confirming an endometriosis diagnosis often still requires invasive surgery, delaying treatment for patients who could benefit from earlier intervention. A reliable non-invasive diagnostic method remains an important unmet need.
health-biology
global-unspecified
reliable
non-invasive
endometriosis
surgery
don
have
way
diagnose
confirming
diagnosis
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even after successful treatment of the bacteria that commonly causes stomach ulcers, some patients experience recurring ulcers due to other contributing factors. A more comprehensive prevention approach remains needed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
ulcers
patients
haven
found
way
fully
prevent
recurrence
treated
pylori
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
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, South America
This parasitic disease continues to cause preventable blindness in parts of Africa and Latin America, largely due to limited access to consistent treatment. Expanding affordable access remains the main barrier rather than lack of an effective treatment.
health-biology
south-america
global-unspecified
treatment
effective
affordable
blindness
don
have
river
available
everywhere
needed
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Vaccines are safe and effective for the vast majority of people, but a small number experience severe reactions for reasons not yet fully understood. Better prediction of who's at risk could make vaccination even safer.
health-biology
global-unspecified
vaccination
people
experience
severe
reactions
vaccines
haven
solved
some
while
don
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
