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
Long-duration missions to Mars risk irreversible DNA damage, cognitive decline, and cancer in astronauts. Lightweight, high-efficiency passive shielding or active electromagnetic deflectors remain undeveloped.
science-space
global-unspecified
human
spaceflight
severely
limited
high-energy
galactic
cosmic
ray
exposure
long-duration
shielding
society-governance
missions
health-biology
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Next-generation telescopes and gigawatt-scale space solar power arrays are too large to fit in single rocket fairings. Highly coordinated multi-robot assembly systems operating in microgravity need to be developed and standardized.
science-space
global-unspecified
assembly
large
space
lack
scalable
mechanisms
autonomous
robotic
structures
next-generation
society-governance
systems
microgravity
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Radiation-hardened chips rely on legacy nanometer fabrication processes to resist cosmic rays, limiting edge-computing AI in space. Photonic chips or radical fault-tolerant micro-architectures must be developed.
science-space
global-unspecified
current
space-grade
electronics
orders
magnitude
slower
earth-based
microprocessors
chips
radiation-hardened
lack
cosmic
explain
ultra-high-energy
rays
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Constellations operating near distant worlds cannot rely on continuous control from Earth operators. Distributed mesh networks and collision-avoidance algorithms operating autonomously across dozens of nodes must be developed.
science-space
global-unspecified
algorithms
lack
autonomous
decentralized
satellite
swarm
coordination
deep
space
operating
illegal
unreported
fishing
waters
near
planetary
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Pressurized gloves force astronauts to constantly fight suit resistance, leading to fingernail loss and severe hand fatigue. Robotic assistance exoskeletons or active pressure-sensing glove joints are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
suit
gloves
hand
current
space
restrict
dexterity
cause
physical
trauma
work
haven
developed
spacesuit
lets
astronauts
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Commercial point-to-point rocket or scramjet transit is limited to ocean routes due to severe atmospheric shockwaves. Low-boom aerodynamic shaping and active acoustic damping technologies must be developed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
sub-orbital
hypersonic
passenger
vehicles
cause
extreme
noise
pollution
sonic
booms
preventing
automated
economics-resources
urban
major
ocean
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
Rapid installation of solar and wind capacity in countries like Vietnam and India frequently faces grid curtailment because high-voltage transmission lines and grid-scale battery storage are insufficiently developed.
climate-environment
asia
india
developed
grid
haven
scalable
architectures
integrate
intermittent
renewable
power
aging
global-unspecified
solar
energy
local-regional
whether
Global warming is causing Himalayan glaciers to melt rapidly, expanding high-altitude glacial lakes. When natural dams breach, catastrophic floods destroy downstream mountain settlements without adequate real-time warning systems.
climate-environment
asia
nepal
warning
systems
glacial
floods
haven
developed
scalable
early
lake
outburst
society-governance
real
time
technology-computing
economics-resources
Criminal syndicates operate large-scale cyber-scam compounds across border enclaves in Southeast Asia, holding thousands of trafficked foreign nationals in forced labor conditions beyond local jurisdiction reach.
technology-computing
asia
myanmar
syndicates
border
haven
developed
transboundary
legal
frameworks
combat
human
trafficking
global-unspecified
african
digital
informal
labor
open
United Arab Emirates, Asia
Thermal and reverse-osmosis desalination across West Asian coastal regions consumes immense fossil fuel resources and discharges hypersaline brine back into marine ecosystems, harming coral reefs.
climate-environment
asia
united-arab-emirates
renewable-energy
desalination
west
asian
haven
developed
affordable
tech
powered
renewable
energy
brine
ocean
governance
global-unspecified
Digital platforms and assistive devices remain cost-prohibitive or unadapted for regional languages, excluding millions of persons with disabilities from the growing digital workforce.
technology-computing
asia
philippines
disabilities
haven
developed
inclusive
tech
infrastructure
workers
developing
markets
digital
global-unspecified
african
remains
economics-resources
public
High electricity costs lead small-scale leather and textile processors to bypass treatment systems, dumping heavy metals directly into river basins.
climate-environment
asia
pakistan
treatment
systems
haven
developed
energy-efficient
industrial
wastewater
small
medium-scale
dyeing
society-governance
technology-computing
global-unspecified
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
Inland freshwater fishermen lose significant portions of their daily catch due to lack of localized ice plants and affordable off-grid refrigeration.
climate-environment
asia
laos
affordable
inland
haven
developed
solar-powered
cold
storage
solutions
smallholder
fisheries
scalable
global-unspecified
whether
society-governance
philosophy-ethics
Frequent power outages degrade essential biological medications in remote clinics, leading to compromised immunization programs.
mathematics-logic
asia
myanmar
haven
developed
scalable
cold-storage
logistics
insulin
temperature-sensitive
vaccines
off-grid
rural
local-regional
health-biology
african
global-unspecified
remains
Landslides regularly cut off remote mountain roads, blocking ground vehicles from delivering critical blood units to rural hospitals.
health-biology
asia
nepal
blood
haven
developed
scalable
drone
delivery
networks
emergency
supplies
mountainous
rural
economics-resources
service
public
global-unspecified
High-density poultry farms lack advanced biosecurity barriers, leading to recurring avian flu outbreaks that devastate regional food security.
health-biology
asia
china
food-security
biosecurity
outbreaks
poultry
haven
developed
efficient
protocols
prevent
swift
viral
coordinating
cross
border
outbreak
Surging demand for traditional air conditioning units in warm Asian nations releases potent HFC greenhouse gases, compounding global warming.
climate-environment
asia
india
air
haven
developed
low-energy
cooling
technologies
capable
replacing
fluorinated
refrigerant
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
health-biology
enabling
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many common medications cause dry mouth as a side effect, and current treatments manage symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause, leaving patients with ongoing discomfort and dental risk. A more effective solution remains undeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
effective
dry
mouth
medications
don
have
way
treat
chronic
caused
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Postpartum depression is often only diagnosed once symptoms have already significantly affected a new parent's daily functioning. Earlier screening tools that catch warning signs sooner remain underdeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
signs
postpartum
depression
symptoms
haven
solved
detect
early
become
severe
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
determine
don
resolved