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
Even when people successfully lose significant weight, the body's biology often works to regain it over time, undermining long-term success. Understanding and countering this biological pushback remains a major open challenge.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
weight
regain
haven
solved
prevent
follows
successful
loss
efforts
even
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
way
health-biology
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chronic pelvic pain often has no clearly identifiable cause even after extensive testing, leaving many patients with limited treatment options. A deeper understanding of its underlying causes remains needed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
pelvic
pain
patients
yet
fully
explain
treat
large
share
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even mild traumatic brain injuries can cause lasting cognitive effects that current treatments struggle to fully reverse. A better understanding of brain recovery mechanisms could open new treatment paths.
health-biology
global-unspecified
brain
reverse
cognitive
traumatic
don
have
reliable
way
decline
caused
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Lower back pain is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide, yet treatment for chronic cases still mostly focuses on symptom management rather than fixing underlying structural or nerve issues. A more definitive solution remains elusive.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
chronic
lower
back
pain
management
rather
fully
treat
relying
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Modern treatments can slow rheumatoid arthritis significantly, but many patients still experience some degree of joint damage over time despite treatment. Stopping this damage completely remains an unmet medical goal.
health-biology
global-unspecified
damage
joint
rheumatoid
arthritis
yet
fully
prevent
long-term
caused
modern
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The same virus or bacteria can cause mild illness in most people while triggering severe, sometimes life-threatening complications in others, and we still don't fully understand why. This gap makes predicting and preventing severe outcomes difficult.
health-biology
global-unspecified
people
severe
complications
haven
solved
some
develop
common
infections
recover
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chronic skin conditions often require lifelong management with creams and medications rather than a resolution of the underlying immune or genetic causes. A real cure, rather than continuous symptom control, remains unavailable.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
skin
conditions
management
yet
fully
treat
eczema
ongoing
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
resolved
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Existing treatments for hair loss can slow the process for some people but rarely reverse it completely, and the underlying biology of hair follicle loss isn't fully understood. A true prevention or reversal method remains undiscovered.
health-biology
global-unspecified
hair
loss
don
have
effective
way
prevent
caused
genetic
hormonal
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fertility treatments like IVF help many people conceive, but success rates still drop significantly with age due to biological factors that current medicine can't fully reverse. Understanding and addressing this decline remains incomplete.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
fertility
age
current
treatments
haven
solved
declines
ways
only
partially
whether
philosophy-ethics
health-biology
resolved
determine
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Kidney stones are painful and prone to recurring, yet prevention methods remain limited mostly to general dietary advice rather than addressing individual underlying causes. More targeted prevention could spare patients repeated painful episodes.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
kidney
stones
prone
reliably
prevent
recurrence
people
developing
painful
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
way
mathematics-logic
fully
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Patients sometimes continue to experience pain months or years after the original injury has healed, suggesting the nervous system itself has changed in ways doctors don't fully understand. Solving this could transform treatment for chronic pain conditions.
health-biology
global-unspecified
pain
has
fully
chronic
sometimes
injury
healed
yet
explain
persists
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
IBS causes chronic digestive discomfort for a significant portion of people worldwide, yet treatment options remain limited to symptom management rather than addressing root causes. The underlying biology is still not fully mapped out.
health-biology
global-unspecified
haven
found
reliable
cure
irritable
bowel
syndrome
affecting
large
share
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
determine
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Despite strict hygiene protocols, patients still frequently contract infections during hospital stays that they didn't have when they arrived. Closing this gap could save both lives and enormous healthcare costs.
health-biology
global-unspecified
have
infections
don
fully
effective
way
prevent
hospital-acquired
despite
strict
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Severe burn victims often face long, painful recoveries and permanent scarring because lab-grown skin grafts aren't yet fast or effective enough to fully replace damaged tissue. Faster, better regeneration methods could change burn treatment entirely.
health-biology
global-unspecified
yet
skin
fast
enough
severe
grow
functional
replacement
patients
burns
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
fully
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Food allergies have been rising for reasons researchers still can't fully explain, and existing treatments mostly manage symptoms after exposure rather than removing the risk entirely. A true prevention or cure remains elusive.
health-biology
global-unspecified
fully
don
understand
some
people
develop
severe
allergic
reactions
foods
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
haven
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Pancreatic cancer often shows no clear symptoms until it has already spread, making it one of the deadliest common cancers. An affordable early screening method could dramatically improve survival rates.
health-biology
global-unspecified
pancreatic
cancer
early
haven
found
way
detect
enough
treat
successfully
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Conditions like long COVID and chronic Lyme disease affect some patients severely while others recover fully from the same initial infection. Understanding this difference could unlock treatments for currently unexplained chronic illness.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
some
illness
others
haven
solved
infections
turn
long-term
certain
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
fully
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The immune system destroys insulin-producing cells for reasons we don't fully understand, forcing patients into decades of careful daily management. A real cure would end this instead of just controlling it.
health-biology
global-unspecified
don
cure
management
have
type
diabetes
only
lifelong
insulin
immune
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
way
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some school systems barely cover how government works or how to engage with it, leaving graduates unfamiliar with basic civic processes. This gap can quietly weaken democratic participation a generation at a time.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
civic
leaving
education
schools
varies
wildly
young
citizens
unprepared
participate
systems
society-governance
haven
whether
philosophy-ethics
prepare
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
When election results are close or contested, some countries have no clear, agreed procedure for resolving the dispute short of prolonged conflict or unrest. This leaves democratic transitions vulnerable at exactly their most sensitive moment.
society-governance
global-unspecified
countries
clear
election
lack
legal
process
peacefully
transferring
power
disputed
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
have