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
COPD gradually reduces lung function over years, and while treatment can ease symptoms and slow decline, it can't reverse the underlying lung damage. A cure remains out of reach for the millions living with this condition.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
slow
yet
chronic
obstructive
pulmonary
disease
only
its
progression
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
determine
way
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Glaucoma often causes irreversible vision loss before it's diagnosed, since early stages typically have no noticeable symptoms. Better early detection and prevention methods remain a pressing unmet need in eye care.
health-biology
global-unspecified
have
glaucoma
vision
loss
don
effective
way
prevent
progression
occurs
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chronic sinus inflammation affects a large number of people and current treatments, from medication to surgery, often only partially resolve symptoms long-term. A more definitive treatment remains undeveloped.
health-biology
global-unspecified
chronic
haven
found
reliable
cure
sinusitis
works
majority
sufferers
sinus
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
way
resolved
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
By the time visible symptoms of Parkinson's appear, significant neurological damage has usually already occurred, limiting how much treatment can help. Detecting the disease years earlier could open the door to more effective intervention.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
parkinson
disease
symptoms
appear
don
have
reliable
way
detect
physical
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
health-biology
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Kidney disease often advances silently for years before symptoms appear, and by the time it's caught, treatment options are limited mainly to slowing further decline. Catching and reversing it earlier remains an open medical challenge.
health-biology
global-unspecified
kidney
disease
don
have
reliable
way
prevent
progression
chronic
its
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Preeclampsia can develop suddenly and seriously endanger both mother and baby, and current screening still misses many cases until symptoms are already severe. Earlier, more accurate prediction could prevent serious harm.
health-biology
global-unspecified
develop
preeclampsia
yet
accurately
predict
pregnancies
will
dangerous
complications
like
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
mathematics-logic
resolved
way
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
Ovarian cancer is often called a silent disease because symptoms don't appear until it has advanced significantly. Early detection tools remain far behind those available for other common cancers.
health-biology
global-unspecified
ovarian
cancer
early
haven
developed
reliable
way
detect
treatable
often
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
don
resolved
have
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Pancreatic cancer often shows no clear symptoms until it has already spread, making it one of the deadliest common cancers. An affordable early screening method could dramatically improve survival rates.
health-biology
global-unspecified
pancreatic
cancer
early
haven
found
way
detect
enough
treat
successfully
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A meaningful share of people who contracted COVID-19 continue experiencing fatigue, brain fog, or other symptoms long after recovery, with no reliably effective treatment yet available. This remains a significant and only partially understood health burden.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
effective
long
symptoms
don
have
way
treat
covid
persist
months
whether
determine
health-biology
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Air pollution contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular disease in millions of people living in polluted urban areas, and treatment only addresses symptoms, not exposure. Reducing the exposure itself remains the harder, unresolved half of the problem.
health-biology
global-unspecified
air-pollution
air
pollution
haven
solved
prevent
long-term
health
effects
densely
populated
whether
philosophy-ethics
climate-environment
mathematics-logic
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Postpartum depression affects many new parents, often going undiagnosed until it significantly affects their wellbeing and their child's early development. Better early prediction could allow support to begin before symptoms take hold.
health-biology
global-unspecified
postpartum
depression
don
have
reliable
way
predict
prevent
develops
affects
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Existing dementia treatments offer only modest, temporary relief from symptoms rather than meaningfully slowing the underlying disease. A real disease-modifying treatment remains one of medicine's most sought-after breakthroughs.
health-biology
global-unspecified
treatment
dementia
don
have
widely
available
slows
progression
forms
existing
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
way
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Tinnitus affects a significant portion of the population and can seriously impact quality of life, yet current treatments only manage symptoms rather than eliminate the underlying cause.
health-biology
global-unspecified
tinnitus
don
have
reliable
cure
constant
ringing
some
people
hear
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
way
mathematics-logic
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
Hundreds of different viruses cause cold symptoms, making a single cure extremely difficult to develop. It remains one of medicine's most familiar yet unsolved problems.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
cold
haven
found
common
despite
decades
trying
hundreds
different
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
determine
resolved
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis occur when the body attacks itself, and current treatments mostly suppress symptoms rather than fix the root cause. Millions live with lifelong management instead of a real cure.
health-biology
global-unspecified
cure
symptoms
autoimmune
diseases
only
manage
conditions
like
lupus
rheumatoid
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
mathematics-logic
don
haven
Create affordable, rapid diagnostics and clinical protocols for agricultural poisonings where symptoms overlap with infections and chemical testing is inaccessible.
health-biology
asia
sri-lanka
detecting
pesticide
poisoning
laboratories
unavailable
create
affordable
rapid
diagnostics
clinical
protocols
ethical
philosophy-ethics
hiv
areas