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
Metered creative capacity that expires each day can suppress spontaneous play and learning. The challenge is supporting healthy cognitive development without artificial scarcity of imagination.
imagination
protecting
children
daily
quota
local-regional
Addressing uncollected garbage piling up in streets is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
uncollected
garbage
piling
streets
2030
mathematics-logic
The problem of raw sewage discharged directly into waterways continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
raw
sewage
discharged
directly
waterways
other
The problem of open defecation continuing to spread disease continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
open
defecation
continuing
spread
disease
other
The problem of millions of households still without toilets continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
millions
households
without
toilets
creating
other
The problem of household cooking with wood and charcoal causing lung disease continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
household
cooking
wood
charcoal
causing
other
Shelving systems that conceal books until a reader meets algorithmic criteria restrict curiosity and self-directed learning. The challenge is supporting progressive discovery without gatekeeping physical or digital collections.
ensuring
free
access
knowledge
when
technology-computing
Addressing natural gas leaks contributing to climate change is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
capacity
natural
gas
leaks
contributing
climate-environment
Precipitation whose nutrient profile varies by corporate cloud ownership creates uneven agricultural and health outcomes. The challenge is ensuring that atmospheric water remains compositionally neutral regardless of commercial claims.
cloud
equalising
nutritional
content
rain
technology-computing
Addressing continued heavy reliance on coal for electricity is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
continued
heavy
reliance
coal
electricity
mathematics-logic
Renting out one’s internal navigation ability can leave the owner disoriented afterward. The problem is allowing voluntary cognitive resource sharing without lasting impairment of basic spatial competence.
protecting
personal
sense
direction
temporary
local-regional
Access rules that demand deposition of a memory before entry turn recreation into an emotional transaction. The challenge is preserving green-space availability without compulsory self-disclosure.
entry
memory
designing
park
does
science-space
Addressing clean energy still too expensive for many is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
capacity
clean
energy
too
expensive
mathematics-logic
The problem of frequent and prolonged electricity blackouts continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
electricity
frequent
prolonged
blackouts
developing
other
Garments that expand or shrink according to measured self-assurance can reinforce insecurity and create practical discomfort. The challenge is allowing adaptive fit without linking physical dimensions to emotional state scores.
fit
stabilising
clothing
when
size
other
Addressing ports unable to handle modern shipping volumes is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
ports
unable
handle
modern
shipping
mathematics-logic
Dispensers that release water only after correct answers create barriers for children, visitors, and people with cognitive differences. The problem is providing free hydration without knowledge tests as gatekeepers.
water
answers
ensuring
access
when
other
The problem of insufficient airport capacity in many regions continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
insufficient
airport
capacity
many
regions
other
Digital calendars that prune events judged irrelevant to a user’s preferred life story erase inconvenient or painful but real experiences. The challenge is giving people control over their records without algorithmic narrative curation.
calendars
narrative
events
preserving
personal
technology-computing
The problem of outdated and slow railway systems continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
outdated
slow
railway
systems
establishing
other