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
Wireless charging remains noticeably slower and less energy-efficient than plugging in directly, limiting its adoption as a true primary charging method. Closing this performance gap remains an unresolved engineering challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
charging
wireless
yet
build
technology
fast
efficient
enough
fully
replace
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
technology-computing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Foldable phone screens still show creasing and wear over time in ways rigid screens don't, raising questions about long-term durability for a technology marketed as a long-term investment. Solving this material science challenge remains ongoing.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
screens
foldable
wear
haven
found
way
make
smartphone
durable
enough
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Video calls in poorly lit rooms often still look grainy or dark despite software attempts to compensate, particularly on lower-end hardware. Better real-time image enhancement without expensive hardware remains an unresolved challenge.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
video
software
compensate
don
have
reliable
way
make
webcams
calling
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Despite decades of incremental improvement, printers remain a notoriously unreliable piece of everyday technology prone to jams, connectivity issues, and wasted ink. A truly hassle-free printing experience remains surprisingly elusive.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
technology
jams
ink
decades
yet
build
printer
eliminates
common
paper
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
affordable
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Bluetooth technology has improved over the years but still occasionally suffers from connection drops, audio lag, or pairing failures that frustrate everyday users. A fully seamless wireless connection experience remains unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
bluetooth
pairing
haven
solved
make
connections
between
devices
consistently
reliable
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
technology-computing
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Standard routers often struggle to provide consistent coverage in homes with thick walls or unusual layouts, leaving dead zones that require additional equipment to fix. A truly universal, affordable solution remains undeveloped.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
affordable
routers
coverage
homes
don
have
home
internet
reliably
maintain
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
agreed
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Smartwatches with more advanced features tend to have shorter battery life, forcing users to choose between functionality and convenience. Solving this tradeoff remains an unresolved hardware challenge.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
battery
yet
build
smartwatch
technology
lasts
multiple
days
while
supporting
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
haven
determine
open
United States, North America
Even devices marketed for outdoor visibility can become difficult to read in direct sunlight, limiting usability during many common outdoor activities. A fully effective, affordable anti-glare solution remains elusive.
economics-resources
north-america
united-states
outdoor
devices
fully
sunlight
haven
found
way
make
screen
glare
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Charging cables remain one of the most frequently replaced tech accessories due to fraying and connector wear from normal daily use. A meaningfully more durable design standard remains unresolved industry-wide.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
charging
durable
wear
don
have
reliable
way
make
usb
cable
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Smart thermostats have improved efficiency, but many systems still require manual adjustment to truly optimize comfort without wasting energy throughout changing conditions. Fully automated, effective climate optimization remains an unresolved technical challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
systems
smart
comfort
energy
efficiency
yet
build
air
conditioning
heating
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
society-governance
technology-computing
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even with modern software, video calls still frequently suffer from lag, echo, or audio dropouts that disrupt natural conversation flow. Achieving truly seamless audio parity with in-person interaction remains unresolved.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
audio
quality
video
in-person
conversation
haven
solved
make
conferencing
consistently
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Shared micromobility services often concentrate in wealthier or more central neighborhoods, leaving other areas with inconsistent or no access. Ensuring equitable coverage remains an unresolved urban technology deployment challenge.
local-regional
global-unspecified
don
have
scalable
way
make
electric
bike
scooter
sharing
infrastructure
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many home security systems still generate frequent false alerts from pets, shadows, or weather, reducing their practical reliability for identifying genuine security concerns. Improving this accuracy without expensive hardware remains unresolved.
society-governance
global-unspecified
security
home
systems
genuine
yet
build
camera
reliably
distinguish
between
whether
technology-computing
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
United States, North America
Video streaming quality can noticeably degrade during peak usage times even with a stable internet connection, since network congestion affects delivery regardless of a household's own bandwidth. Solving this at scale remains an unresolved infrastructure challenge.
climate-environment
north-america
united-states
high
streaming
video
quality
during
network
congestion
haven
found
way
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Advanced prosthetics with sensory feedback exist but remain far too expensive for widespread use, especially in lower-income regions where basic prosthetics are already hard to access. Closing this affordability gap remains an unresolved global health technology challenge.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
sensory
feedback
yet
build
affordable
prosthetic
limbs
available
amputees
worldwide
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
health-biology
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Modern hearing aids remain prohibitively expensive for a large share of the global population that could benefit from them, leaving hearing loss untreated in many communities. Making this technology genuinely affordable at scale remains unresolved.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
hearing
technology
affordable
haven
solved
make
aid
enough
widespread
lower-income
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
climate-environment
way
resolved
open
United States, North America
Many touchscreens still struggle with accuracy when used in cold conditions or with standard gloves, limiting usability in colder climates. A universally reliable solution remains an unresolved hardware design challenge.
climate-environment
north-america
united-states
reliable
cold
gloves
don
have
way
make
touchscreen
technology
fully
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Advanced filtration technology exists, but cost and infrastructure requirements keep effective solutions out of reach for many communities facing the most severe water contamination issues. Solving this affordability and deployment challenge remains urgent.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
water
filtration
technology
effective
yet
build
affordable
enough
remove
all
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Solar panel efficiency has improved significantly, but in regions with less sunlight or higher installation costs, achieving full cost competitiveness with traditional energy remains inconsistent. Closing this gap universally remains an unresolved technical and economic challenge.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
make
solar
panel
efficiency
haven
found
way
high
enough
small
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
climate-environment
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Advanced diagnostic technology often requires expensive, bulky equipment that isn't practical for small clinics in remote or under-resourced areas. Miniaturizing and lowering the cost of this technology without sacrificing accuracy remains an unresolved challenge.
health-biology
global-unspecified
diagnostic
clinics
yet
build
affordable
portable
medical
devices
accurate
enough
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
haven
technology