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
Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis occur when the body attacks itself, and current treatments mostly suppress symptoms rather than fix the root cause. Millions live with lifelong management instead of a real cure.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
symptoms
autoimmune
diseases
only
manage
conditions
like
lupus
rheumatoid
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
mathematics-logic
don
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Hurricanes and tornadoes can still shift path or intensity with little warning, leaving communities scrambling to evacuate. More precise, longer-range forecasting could save lives and billions in property damage every year.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
precise
haven
developed
weather
models
enough
predict
extreme
storms
far
whether
systems
climate
philosophy-ethics
african
mathematics-logic
open
United States, North America
Seismologists can identify risky zones but not the exact moment a quake will strike. A few minutes of reliable warning could save thousands of lives in earthquake-prone cities.
climate-environment
north-america
united-states
warning
save
lives
predict
earthquakes
enough
seismologists
identify
risky
zones
global-unspecified
haven
whether
disaster
philosophy-ethics
Farmers near protected reserves in Morocco suffer repeated crop and livestock losses to wildlife, and existing deterrents are either ineffective or too costly for widespread deployment, fueling retaliatory killings.
climate-environment
africa
morocco
protected
reserves
reducing
human-wildlife
conflict
agricultural
areas
bordering
farmers
wildlife
chile
romania
myanmar
democratic
Students in low-connectivity regions of Global cannot benefit from most digital learning platforms, which assume continuous internet access unavailable in their communities.
technology-computing
digital
learning
low-connectivity
regions
delivering
offline-capable
tools
students
cannot
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
low
access
society-governance
economics-resources
remains
Informal waste pickers in Philippines recover a substantial share of recyclable material but operate without legal recognition, safety equipment, or fair pricing from recycling buyers.
economics-resources
asia
philippines
informal
formalizing
waste-picker
livelihoods
waste
pickers
recover
substantial
share
settlements
systems
picker
climate-environment
global-unspecified
urban
The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for nature-based solutions for flood risk reduction that also support biodiversity and livelihoods creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.
climate-environment
asia
nepal
biodiversity
solutions
nature-based
flood
risk
reduction
also
support
livelihoods
scalable
society-governance
systems
methods
nature
based
open
United Kingdom, Europe
The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for solutions for providing safe dignified and sustainable livelihoods for climate-vulnerable populations creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.
climate-environment
europe
united-kingdom
solutions
robust
providing
safe
dignified
sustainable
livelihoods
climate-vulnerable
populations
methods
society-governance
systems
enabling
technologies
governance
Current approaches to pathways for transitioning coal-dependent communities to sustainable and dignified livelihoods either underperform under variable field conditions or generate externalities that undermine long-term sustainability and equity. Closing the gap requires coordinated advances in science, systems design and enabling institutions.
economics-resources
oceania
australia
pathways
transitioning
coal-dependent
communities
sustainable
dignified
livelihoods
integrated
current
approaches
society-governance
climate-environment
systems
enabling
solutions
open
United States, North America
Coastal communities in United States face progressive land loss from sea-level rise, but planned relocation efforts lack frameworks for preserving livelihoods, land rights, and cultural continuity during resettlement.
economics-resources
north-america
united-states
coastal
communities
sea-level
rise
united
states
relocating
threatened
land
face
climate-environment
fishing
sea
level
global-unspecified
Current approaches to interventions that improve the quality and equity of primary healthcare delivery either underperform under variable field conditions or generate externalities that undermine long-term sustainability and equity. Closing the gap requires coordinated advances in science, systems design and enabling institutions.
society-governance
europe
spain
equity
interventions
improve
quality
primary
healthcare
delivery
scalable
solutions
current
systems
climate-environment
enabling
approaches
under
Design systems that remain usable for people with limited literacy, disability, low connectivity, language barriers, or insecure documentation. The challenge is especially acute in remote island communities, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
social-civic-problems
asia
indonesia
remote
island
communities
inclusive
access
digital
public
services
connectivity
design
economics-resources
society-governance
systems
Create conservation and restoration approaches that protect biodiversity while sustaining the people whose food, income, and culture depend on those ecosystems. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
economics-resources
africa
nigeria
biodiversity
ecosystems
informal
settlements
protection
supporting
local
livelihoods
create
conservation
restoration
communities
society-governance
public
social-civic-problems
Develop practical data collection, modeling, public deliberation, and evaluation tools for decisions currently made with incomplete or inaccessible evidence. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
society-governance
africa
nigeria
evidence
decisions
informal
settlements
local
difficult
policy
develop
practical
data
economics-resources
communities
public
worker
Create safe, economically viable collection, sorting, repair, reuse, and material-recovery systems suited to decentralized local markets. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
economics-resources
africa
nigeria
local
informal
settlements
circular
recovery
overlooked
waste
streams
create
safe
society-governance
communities
might
actors
public
Develop enforceable, worker-centered protections for safety, pay, benefits, bargaining, and grievance resolution outside conventional employment. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
economics-resources
africa
nigeria
informal
settlements
worker
protection
fragmented
economies
develop
enforceable
worker-centered
protections
communities
society-governance
public
social-civic-problems
remote
Build affordable monitoring and response systems that identify local environmental threats before they become chronic public-health crises. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
health-biology
africa
nigeria
mental-health
environmental
informal
settlements
early
detection
health
hazards
build
affordable
monitoring
economics-resources
society-governance
communities
public
Create accountable methods for prioritizing limited water, housing, health, energy, and social-protection resources without reinforcing local inequality. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
social-civic-problems
africa
nigeria
resources
informal
settlements
transparent
allocation
scarce
public
create
accountable
methods
economics-resources
society-governance
communities
worker
protection
Develop local skills, spare-parts access, inspection methods, and financing so public infrastructure continues functioning after installation. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
economics-resources
africa
nigeria
public
informal
settlements
safe
maintenance
essential
assets
develop
local
skills
society-governance
communities
social-civic-problems
worker
Create transparent financial mechanisms that help households and local institutions prepare for recurrent shocks before emergency aid is needed. The challenge is especially acute in informal settlements, where existing solutions often assume stable institutions, high incomes, continuous connectivity, or centralized service delivery.
economics-resources
africa
nigeria
informal
settlements
community-scale
climate-risk
financing
institutions
create
transparent
financial
mechanisms
society-governance
communities
public
social-civic-problems
local