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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4094Total
4094Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
We have detected a handful of mergers, but their cosmic history and diversity remain unclear. Next-generation detectors with wider frequency coverage can map the gravitational-wave background.
science-space
global-unspecified
gravitational-wave
cosmic
exact
rate
mechanisms
sources
time
unknown
have
detected
know
dark
remain
matter
lack
explain
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Magnetic storms and particle fluxes shape space weather and radiation hazards but are hard to predict. Better in situ measurements and coupled simulations can improve forecasts.
science-space
global-unspecified
not
yet
have
complete
models
planetary
magnetosphere
solar
wind
interactions
whether
know
haven
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Closed-loop ecological systems remain experimental and fragile, limiting long-duration missions and settlements. Iterative testing of regenerative life-support biomes is needed.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
life-support
long-term
human
survival
away
earth
lacks
proven
ecosystem
closed-loop
systems
society-governance
long
support
ensuring
science-space
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many asteroids and comets capable of regional or global damage remain undiscovered. Enhanced survey telescopes and radar characterization programs are required.
local-regional
global-unspecified
lack
detailed
census
potentially
hazardous
near-earth
objects
asteroids
comets
capable
development
sustainable
solutions
mathematics-logic
remain
whether
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Inflationary models explain early expansion but differ in predictions for primordial fluctuations and multiverse scenarios. Precision measurements of the cosmic microwave background and primordial gravitational waves could distinguish models.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
cosmic
fine
details
inflation
remain
speculative
models
primordial
inflationary
explain
science-space
know
climate-environment
have
society-governance
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
Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays’ origins remain unclear, challenging acceleration models. Distributed detector arrays and multi-messenger astronomy could identify sources.
science-space
global-unspecified
cosmic
rays
lack
unified
explanation
high-energy
above
knee
ultra-high-energy
origins
know
remain
mechanisms
dark
matter
source
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
The information paradox and firewall hypotheses highlight tension between quantum mechanics and relativity. Advances in quantum information theory and holography may clarify.
science-space
global-unspecified
quantum
information
role
black-hole
physics
unresolved
paradox
firewall
hypotheses
highlight
technology-computing
whether
haven
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
infrastructure
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Microscopic laws are time-symmetric, yet macroscopic phenomena exhibit irreversibility. Deeper understanding of entropy and quantum measurement could help.
science-space
global-unspecified
nature
time
arrow
fundamental
physics
remains
debated
microscopic
laws
time-symmetric
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
yet
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
Running couplings suggest possible metastability of the vacuum. Improved measurements of Higgs and top masses refine stability assessments.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
not
know
whether
standard
model
stable
very
high
energies
running
philosophy-ethics
haven
resolved
possible
don
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Decoherence, error correction overhead, and materials issues limit current prototypes. New architectures and fault-tolerant schemes are needed.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
designing
practical
scalable
quantum
computers
remains
open
engineering
physics
decoherence
society-governance
climate-environment
high
institutions
democratic
speed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Existing tests focus on known-answer questions rather than open research tasks. Benchmarks that evaluate models on genuine research subtasks can guide development.
society-governance
global-unspecified
benchmarks
lack
robust
systems
performing
frontier
scientific
reasoning
research
existing
economics-resources
climate-environment
governance
technology-computing
ensuring
models
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
Magnetically confined plasmas exhibit instabilities and transport phenomena that limit performance. Better diagnostics and simulation tools can improve reactor design.
health-biology
global-unspecified
detailed
microphysics
fusion
plasma
burning
not
completely
characterized
magnetically
confined
african
transport
often
systems
design
africa
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
Simulations predict substructure that observations only partly confirm. Strong lensing and stellar stream measurements can probe these scales.
science-space
global-unspecified
characterizing
small-scale
structure
dark
matter
halos
remains
difficult
simulations
predict
lack
know
remain
models
actually
what
