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
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
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
Some countries publish detailed defense budgets while others keep most military spending secret, making it hard to assess true security risks or hold leaders accountable for spending choices. Greater transparency remains politically resisted in many places.
society-governance
global-unspecified
spending
military
there
consistent
standard
transparent
governments
must
some
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
haven
public
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some high offices have strict term limits while others, sometimes in the same country, have none at all, allowing certain officials to accumulate power for decades. This inconsistency undermines the broader principle term limits are meant to protect.
society-governance
global-unspecified
term
limits
officials
power
judges
top
applied
inconsistently
entrenched
remains
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
haven
determine
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some mathematical series behave predictably, while others sit in ambiguous territory where convergence is difficult to prove definitively. Fully resolving these cases remains an active area of mathematical research.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
series
haven
proven
exact
conditions
under
certain
infinite
converge
finite
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
know
possible
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
New technologies have always displaced some jobs while creating others, but there's no agreed threshold for how much short-term harm is an acceptable cost of long-term progress.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
progress
haven
found
shared
answer
technological
unemployment
society
willing
accept
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
know
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
High childcare costs push many parents, disproportionately mothers, out of the workforce entirely or into reduced hours. Making quality childcare broadly affordable remains an unresolved economic and social policy gap.
society-governance
global-unspecified
childcare
affordable
parents
workforce
yet
make
accessible
enough
support
working
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Historical mistreatment and inconsistent messaging have left some communities more distrustful of public health guidance than others, undermining response to outbreaks and vaccination campaigns. Rebuilding this trust remains a slow, unresolved process.
health-biology
global-unspecified
public-health
vaccination
public
health
messaging
communities
yet
ensure
trusted
equally
all
historical
society-governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some believe rewards should go strictly to those who work hardest or perform best, while others argue unequal starting points make pure merit-based systems inherently unfair. This tension remains philosophically unresolved.
local-regional
global-unspecified
haven
found
universal
answer
societies
balance
individual
merit
against
equal
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue extreme wealth carries an obligation to help others, while others see it purely as a matter of personal choice. Philosophy hasn't settled this question in any way most people accept.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
obligation
wealth
don
agree
whether
wealthy
individuals
have
moral
give
resolved
know
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Personalized medicine is improving, but doctors still can't always predict in advance which patients will respond to a given treatment. Solving this could avoid painful trial-and-error treatment periods for patients.
health-biology
global-unspecified
patients
yet
explain
identical
treatments
work
well
some
not
others
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
chronic
fully
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some optimization problems are proven solvable efficiently, others proven intractable, but a complete boundary map covering every conceivable variation remains incomplete. This unresolved question is central to computational complexity theory.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
boundary
solvable
optimization
every
don
know
whether
exact
between
unsolvable
resolved
haven
philosophy-ethics
possible
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many geometric constants have been linked to constants like pi through elegant proofs, but numerous others remain isolated without any confirmed deeper connection. This unresolved gap continues to intrigue mathematicians working in geometry and analysis.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
constants
geometry
have
connection
haven
proven
whether
every
mathematical
constant
resolved
philosophy-ethics
know
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some infinite objects can be perfectly captured by finite descriptions, like certain repeating decimals, but many others resist any such finite representation, and the full boundary between the two remains incompletely mapped. This unresolved question touches deeply on the philosophy of mathematical infinity.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
finite
infinite
mathematical
any
don
know
whether
every
possible
object
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some philosophical traditions argue meaningful experiences hold deeper value than accumulated possessions, while others see this distinction as less clear-cut than it first appears. This unresolved question shapes broader debates about consumerism and what truly constitutes a fulfilling life.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
value
experiences
possessions
life
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
know
haven
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Free expression is broadly valued as essential to a healthy society, but some speech can contribute to tangible harm, creating an unresolved tension between liberty and protection. This debate remains central to discussions on censorship and hate speech.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
free
expression
harm
don
know
whether
ethical
prioritize
protecting
even
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Emotional openness is often seen as essential to genuine connection, yet it also exposes people to real potential harm, and no clear consensus exists on how much vulnerability morality actually requires. This unresolved tension shapes both personal relationships and broader social trust.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
real
haven
resolved
whether
humans
have
duty
remain
emotionally
vulnerable
know
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some believe unresolved anger should eventually give way to forgiveness for the sake of personal peace, while others argue there's no moral deadline for healing from serious harm. This unresolved tension shapes both personal relationships and broader restorative justice practices.
society-governance
global-unspecified
way
forgiveness
don
have
agreed
determine
whether
fair
expect
come
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue refusing to forgive certain wrongs preserves a person's dignity and sense of justice, while others see prolonged resentment as ultimately corrosive rather than protective. This unresolved tension shapes how we understand forgiveness and self-respect.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
self-respect
rather
unresolved
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
hold
onto
grudges
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Grief looks very different depending on cultural context, and it's unclear whether some expressions should be considered more or less appropriate than others. This unresolved question touches on cross-cultural ethics and respect for differing emotional traditions.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
grief
don
know
ethical
allow
deeply
personal
expressed
processed
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic