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
AI models often can't accurately tell when a question falls outside what they actually know, leading them to guess confidently rather than admit uncertainty. Teaching AI to recognize its own limits remains an unresolved research problem.
society-governance
global-unspecified
know
limits
own
build
systems
reliably
knowledge
models
often
accurately
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
technology-computing
open
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Emerging evidence suggests shifts in Antarctic hydrological cycles that affect ice-mass balance and ecosystems. Enhanced meteorological observations and models can clarify trends.
mathematics-logic
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
extreme
precipitation
events
changing
snowfall
patterns
poorly
understood
emerging
evidence
society-governance
real
time
systems
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even advanced AI systems can confidently state things that violate obvious physical logic, like objects falling upward or liquids not filling containers. This gap shows current AI still lacks a genuine model of how the physical world works.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
physical
build
models
reason
reliably
basic
common
sense
even
advanced
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
resolved
systems
know
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
Agriculture, hydropower, and urban water supplies are increasingly affected by changing rainfall and heat patterns. Climate-risk modelling and adaptation investment platforms can help prioritise responses.
climate-environment
south-america
south-america-unspecified
climate-change
climate
change
intensifying
droughts
extreme
weather
south
america
agriculture
hydropower
cities
urban
water
heat
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
Sea-level rise and extreme rainfall threaten settlements and infrastructure. Climate-risk mapping and relocation-planning tools can guide adaptation.
climate-environment
south-america
south-america-unspecified
coastal
riverine
communities
south
america
vulnerable
climate-driven
flooding
sea-level
rise
economics-resources
fishing
climate
sea
level
open
Europe / Unspecified, Europe
Changing rainfall patterns and heat waves strain agriculture and urban supplies. Basin-level modelling and demand-management platforms can help cities and farmers adapt.
climate-environment
europe
europe-unspecified
water-scarcity
water
scarcity
droughts
increasingly
affecting
southern
changing
rainfall
patterns
urban
cities
african
climate
global-unspecified
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Water planning based on historical norms is becoming unreliable. Scenario-based planning and storage investments are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
climate-change
climate
change
altering
rainfall
patterns
drought
frequency
planning
water
based
society-governance
governance
cities
building
urban
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many climate-vulnerable nations lack resources to adapt. Innovative finance tools and grant mechanisms are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
finance
adaptation
vulnerable
countries
falls
short
needs
climate-vulnerable
nations
lack
mechanisms
climate
ensuring
african
access
development
Many staple crops have not been bred for the increasing heat and erratic rainfall smallholders now face. Localized breeding programs and seed-distribution networks need faster scaling.
climate-environment
asia
smallholders
access
climate-resilient
crop
varieties
remains
limited
asian
staple
crops
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
african
whether
breeding
way
open
South & Central Asia, Asia
Melting glaciers and shifting rainfall patterns threaten the reliability of hydropower that many countries depend on, while upstream-downstream tensions complicate new dam projects. Diversified renewable portfolios could reduce over-reliance on hydropower alone.
climate-environment
asia
south-central-asia
hydropower
projects
mountainous
face
rising
climate
geopolitical
risks
melting
global-unspecified
institutional
arrangements
reduce
corruption
society-governance
Cities are growing faster than governments can build roads, utilities, and housing, leading to chronic service shortfalls. Incremental, modular urban planning approaches could help cities adapt more affordably.
society-governance
asia
urban-planning
cities
planning
rapid
unplanned
urbanization
outpacing
infrastructure
asian
growing
faster
urban
climate-environment
african
global-unspecified
systems
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Factory workers, disproportionately women, frequently face unsafe conditions and low wages in export-oriented garment manufacturing. Independent digital labor-monitoring and grievance-reporting platforms could improve accountability.
technology-computing
asia
south-southeast-asia
garment
conditions
textile
industry
labor
south
southeast
often
fall
global-unspecified
digital
african
workers
informal
economics-resources
Overgrazing, deforestation, and reduced rainfall are turning arable land into desert, forcing migration and fueling conflict. Large-scale reforestation efforts like the Great Green Wall need faster, better-funded implementation.
climate-environment
africa
sahel
deforestation
desertification
expanding
displacing
millions
overgrazing
reduced
rainfall
turning
land
prevent
global-unspecified
spreading
housing
economics-resources
In archipelagic nations like the Philippines, vulnerable households repeatedly lose livestock, crops, and home infrastructure to severe seasonal storms. Standard microfinance models often default during disasters, compounding debt cycles rather than relieving poverty.
climate-environment
asia
philippines
poverty
haven
developed
climate-resilient
financial
instruments
prevent
coastal
communities
falling
global-unspecified
economics-resources
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
Standard crop insurance relies on slow physical damage assessments. Satellite-triggered parametric insurance models are not yet calibrated for micro-climate variations.
climate-environment
asia
india
insurance
parametric
haven
built
coverage
smallholder
farmers
against
unseasonal
localized
products
global-unspecified
crop
whether
african
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, contributes to frailty and falls in older adults, and current treatments rely mainly on exercise and diet rather than addressing the underlying biological decline. A more direct medical solution remains undeveloped.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
muscle
loss
haven
found
way
prevent
comes
aging
age-related
known
whether
philosophy-ethics
health-biology
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Bone density loss often goes unnoticed until a fall causes a serious fracture, by which point significant damage has already occurred. Better early detection and prevention could avoid many of these life-altering injuries.
health-biology
global-unspecified
until
fracture
haven
found
way
stop
osteoporosis
silently
weakening
bones
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Surveys in numerous countries show steadily falling trust in courts, legislatures, and civil services, even as living standards in some of those places have improved. Understanding and reversing this erosion remains a central unsolved governance challenge.
society-governance
global-unspecified
trust
public
government
institutions
has
been
declining
democracies
decades
surveys
whether
philosophy-ethics
data
services
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many deeply held beliefs about meaning and purpose fall outside what science can confirm or deny, and it's unclear whether this should affect how seriously we treat them. This unresolved tension underlies broader debates between faith, philosophy, and empirical inquiry.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
meaning
beliefs
don
know
ethical
allow
people
derive
never
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some philosophers argue honesty is an absolute duty, while others believe consequences justify occasional deception, particularly to prevent harm. Real situations in medicine and relationships constantly test where this line actually falls.
health-biology
global-unspecified
haven
figured
out
whether
ever
morally
permissible
lie
someone
own
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical