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.
Publicly citable
Every problem has a stable citation code for reference and discussion.
Filtered by relevance
Search by category, geography, status, and keywords.
Builder-oriented
Use the repository to find startup ideas, policy leads, and research agendas.
4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gödel's incompleteness theorems already showed some truths escape any fixed formal system, but the full boundary between provable and unprovable truths remains an active area of exploration. This shapes how we understand the limits of formal reasoning itself.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
system
don
know
every
mathematical
statement
seems
true
eventually
proven
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The Continuum Hypothesis asks whether there's a size of infinity strictly between the countable and uncountable, and it has been shown to be independent of standard mathematical axioms. This unresolved question touches the very foundation of set theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
set
size
mathematical
haven
resolved
every
infinite
numbers
must
know
philosophy-ethics
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gödel's theorems already limit what's possible here for sufficiently powerful systems, but the full landscape of alternative systems and their limitations remains an active and unresolved area of mathematical logic. This continues to shape our understanding of the foundations of mathematics itself.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
mathematical
haven
determined
whether
build
truly
complete
consistent
system
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If advanced artificial systems could one day be conscious, we'd face serious ethical obligations toward them, but we lack any reliable test for detecting genuine inner experience. This uncertainty already complicates debates about AI rights and welfare.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
know
whether
consciousness
exist
something
isn
biological
advanced
artificial
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Methane traps far more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term, yet nearly all climate technology focuses on capturing carbon dioxide instead. A cheap way to actively remove atmospheric methane could meaningfully slow near-term warming.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
methane
way
remove
don
have
affordable
already
accumulated
atmosphere
carbon
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
agreed
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Parts of the Greenland ice sheet may have already crossed tipping points where melting continues regardless of future emissions cuts. Understanding and potentially slowing this process remains one of climate science's most urgent unresolved challenges.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
greenland
ice
sheet
yet
stop
accelerating
melt
once
passes
certain
whether
philosophy-ethics
don
determine
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As Arctic ice recedes, increased shipping and resource extraction activity adds further pressure to already fragile polar ecosystems. Balancing economic interest with ecological protection in this newly accessible region remains unresolved.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
polar
ecosystems
increased
activity
haven
solved
protect
compounding
effects
warming
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
climate-environment
protection
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Overgrazing, deforestation, and changing rainfall patterns continue to push arid regions toward full desertification faster than restoration projects can reverse. Scaling effective land restoration to match the pace of degradation remains unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
deforestation
effective
desertification
arid
regions
don
have
affordable
way
prevent
spreading
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Coastal development can interfere with natural sand replenishment processes, compounding the erosion already caused by rising sea levels. Balancing coastal development with long-term shoreline stability remains an unresolved planning challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
development
erosion
caused
rising
yet
fully
prevent
beaches
shorelines
combination
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Advanced prosthetics with sensory feedback exist but remain far too expensive for widespread use, especially in lower-income regions where basic prosthetics are already hard to access. Closing this affordability gap remains an unresolved global health technology challenge.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
sensory
feedback
yet
build
affordable
prosthetic
limbs
available
amputees
worldwide
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
health-biology
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many large-scale policies are implemented based on assumptions rather than solid evidence, and by the time results come in, the damage or waste is already done. Better testing methods could save enormous public resources.
society-governance
global-unspecified
policies
don
have
reliable
way
measure
whether
government
actually
work
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
False information often reaches millions of people before any correction catches up, and by then the damage to public understanding is already done. Fixing this gap is critical to informed public debate.
society-governance
global-unspecified
stop
misinformation
spreading
faster
fact-checks
catch
public
false
information
often
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
services
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions often go undetected until symptoms are already severe. Earlier, more reliable prediction could allow prevention instead of just treatment after the fact.
health-biology
global-unspecified
mental-health
reliable
mental
haven
found
way
predict
will
develop
illness
starts
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Entire island nations and coastal communities face losing their homes permanently, with no agreed international process for where they go or who helps pay for it. This is already happening, not just a future risk.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
have
fair
way
relocate
people
displaced
rising
sea
levels
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
By the time illegal logging is discovered, the trees are often already gone and the damage is done. Real-time detection and enforcement could protect forests before, not after, they disappear.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
deforestation
illegal
time
yet
track
stop
happens
real
logging
discovered
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
society-governance
resolved
determine
open
United States, North America
Thousands of pieces of space junk are already circling the planet, threatening satellites and future missions. Left unresolved, orbit could become too cluttered and risky to safely launch into.
science-space
north-america
united-states
orbit
don
have
affordable
way
remove
dangerous
debris
earth
thousands
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
agreed
open
Brazil, South America
Dengue surveillance in Brazil is largely retrospective, relying on confirmed case counts reported weeks after transmission has already accelerated, rather than integrating mosquito density, rainfall, and mobility data into a forward-looking model.
local-regional
south-america
brazil
dengue
predicting
localized
outbreaks
peak
surveillance
largely
retrospective
relying
peru
colombia
mexico
haiti