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
South & Central Asia, Asia
Mountainous terrain and low population density make fiber rollout economically unviable in many areas. Satellite internet and community mesh networks offer a faster path to connectivity.
economics-resources
asia
south-central-asia
broadband
digital
infrastructure
gaps
persist
remote
parts
central
south
technology-computing
remains
global-unspecified
rural
african
access
Rural residents often pay more for slower internet, limiting access to e-commerce, remote work, and online education. Community Wi-Fi cooperatives and subsidized rural data plans could help close this gap.
social-civic-problems
asia
rural
access
online
digital
divide
between
urban
limits
opportunity
african
remains
global-unspecified
economics-resources
society-governance
Banks, hospitals, and government systems are digitizing quickly without matching investment in security infrastructure, creating major breach risks. Affordable managed cybersecurity services for SMEs are an underexplored market.
technology-computing
asia
cybersecurity
capacity
lags
behind
rapid
digitization
several
asian
economies
banks
systems
global-unspecified
society-governance
african
whether
public
Smaller countries lack the compute infrastructure and talent pipelines to participate meaningfully in the AI race, risking long-term digital dependency. Regional shared compute clusters and cross-border research partnerships could help.
local-regional
asia
development
remains
concentrated
handful
large
economies
compute
smaller
countries
technology-computing
african
global-unspecified
digital
africa
infrastructure
mathematics-logic
Discarded phones, computers, and batteries often end up in informal, toxic recycling operations that harm workers and the environment. Formal e-waste recycling ventures could recover valuable materials safely.
climate-environment
asia
recycling
e-waste
booming
electronics
consumption
lacks
adequate
infrastructure
discarded
waste
global-unspecified
systems
informal
haven
economics-resources
management
Viral misinformation has fueled real-world violence and health misinformation in several countries with weak media literacy programs. Fact-checking tools integrated directly into popular messaging apps could slow its spread.
social-civic-problems
asia
misinformation
media
messaging
apps
spreads
rapidly
social
viral
has
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
remains
african
access
society-governance
Major language models and voice assistants poorly support languages like Bengali, Vietnamese, or Tagalog, excluding large populations from digital tools. Building region-specific language datasets is a major open opportunity.
technology-computing
asia
vietnam
language
support
tools
languages
local
remains
weak
south
southeast
asian
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
african
digital
Weak or absent data-protection laws in some countries leave citizens' personal data vulnerable to misuse by companies and governments alike. Regional data-protection frameworks modeled on best practices could improve safeguards.
society-governance
asia
data
privacy
protections
remain
inconsistent
rapidly
digitizing
asian
economies
data-protection
global-unspecified
technology-computing
african
whether
incomplete
limited
Heavy reliance on a small number of chip manufacturing hubs like Taiwan creates risk if supply is disrupted by conflict or disaster. Diversifying regional chip fabrication capacity is a major strategic priority.
local-regional
asia
east-asia
supply-chain
supply
creates
strategic
semiconductor
chain
dependency
vulnerability
several
asian
economies
global-unspecified
economics-resources
african
whether
Ride-hailing and delivery platform workers often have no formal contracts, benefits, or dispute-resolution mechanisms. Portable benefits platforms tied to worker digital IDs could extend protections across platforms.
technology-computing
asia
workers
digital
protections
gig
economy
lack
labor
benefits
platforms
economics-resources
african
global-unspecified
informal
Most countries in the region depend on foreign satellites for communication, weather monitoring, and navigation. Regional satellite-sharing consortiums could give smaller nations affordable access to space-based data.
science-space
asia
nations
space
satellite
technology
development
remains
limited
few
leading
asian
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
african
affordable
haven
Poor air quality now ranks among the top public health risks in the region, yet cross-border cooperation on solutions remains limited. Regional air-quality monitoring networks and shared mitigation strategies are needed.
climate-environment
asia
india
public-health
air-pollution
air
pollution
crop
burning
vehicle
emissions
creates
severe
seasonal
smog
global-unspecified
society-governance
solutions
Palm oil and timber industries clear forest at rates that threaten orangutans and other endangered species while releasing significant carbon emissions. Sustainable palm oil certification and satellite-based deforestation tracking need stronger enforcement.
climate-environment
asia
indonesia
deforestation
carbon-emissions
threaten
malaysia
continues
some
world
biodiverse
rainforests
palm
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
way
have
whether
Rapid consumption growth combined with inadequate waste management sends huge volumes of plastic into waterways each year. River-cleaning technology and plastic-to-value recycling startups could intercept waste before it reaches oceans.
climate-environment
asia
waste-management
waste
plastic
pollution
asian
rivers
coastlines
contributes
heavily
ocean
globally
global-unspecified
management
systems
recycling
solutions
open
Southeast Asia, Asia
Warming waters, pollution, and destructive fishing practices are damaging reefs that millions depend on for fishing and tourism income. Coral restoration projects and marine protected area enforcement need expanded funding.
climate-environment
asia
southeast-asia
biodiversity
coral
marine
reef
degradation
threatens
coastal
livelihoods
southeast
fishing
communities
economics-resources
global-unspecified
bleaching
near
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Densely populated deltas like the Ganges-Brahmaputra and Mekong face increasing flooding and salinization of farmland. Adaptive infrastructure and salt-tolerant crop varieties could help communities adjust.
climate-environment
asia
south-southeast-asia
sea
level
rise
threatens
low-lying
delta
regions
south
southeast
global-unspecified
african
remains
haven
coastal
infrastructure
Changing ice patterns disrupt traditional agricultural water cycles that communities have relied on for generations. Better climate modeling and adaptive water-management planning are urgently needed.
climate-environment
asia
central-asia
water
melting
permafrost
glaciers
central
altering
regional
availability
changing
global-unspecified
urban
african
whether
don
philosophy-ethics
The region serves as both source and transit hub for trafficked ivory, pangolins, and tiger parts destined for black markets. Stronger customs detection technology and cross-border enforcement cooperation are needed.
economics-resources
asia
illegal
wildlife
trafficking
remains
major
threat
endangered
species
globally
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
african
have
open
Central & East Asia, Asia
Overgrazing and unsustainable land use are turning productive land into desert, threatening herding communities' livelihoods. Large-scale reforestation and sustainable grazing management programs could slow the spread.
economics-resources
asia
central-east-asia
desert
desertification
spreading
parts
central
east
including
edges
gobi
communities
land
climate-environment
global-unspecified
remain
african
Decades of unregulated manufacturing have left soil unsafe for farming in some areas, requiring costly remediation. Affordable soil-remediation technology and stricter industrial waste regulation are needed.
climate-environment
asia
industrial
soil
pollution
has
severely
contaminated
water
several
rapidly
industrialized
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
affordable
don
urban
