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
Many home security systems still generate frequent false alerts from pets, shadows, or weather, reducing their practical reliability for identifying genuine security concerns. Improving this accuracy without expensive hardware remains unresolved.
society-governance
global-unspecified
security
home
systems
genuine
yet
build
camera
reliably
distinguish
between
whether
technology-computing
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Solar lighting technology exists, but durability and cost issues have limited how widely and reliably it can be deployed in regions that need it most. Improving both affordability and long-term reliability remains an unresolved challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
lighting
regions
yet
build
affordable
durable
solar-powered
solutions
reliable
enough
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
determine
society-governance
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Most human knowledge lives in systems vulnerable to disaster, conflict, or simple neglect, with no single resilient backup for civilization's collective information. A well-protected global archive could safeguard this against permanent loss.
society-governance
global-unspecified
archive
human
knowledge
against
loss
don
have
shared
preserves
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
systems
agreed
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A surprising number of published scientific results can't be reproduced when other researchers try the same experiment, undermining trust in published findings. Fixing this reproducibility gap is essential to keeping science reliable.
science-space
global-unspecified
scientific
results
haven
solved
make
research
replicate
consistently
different
labs
society-governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
institutional
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The deep ocean holds vast mineral resources and ecosystems we barely understand, yet no single country has authority over most of it. Without a fair governance system, the deep sea risks being exploited before it's even properly studied.
society-governance
global-unspecified
deep
fair
sea
single
haven
found
way
govern
belongs
nation
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
have
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Space missions are still largely framed as national or corporate accomplishments rather than shared human ones, even though the benefits and risks affect everyone. A more collaborative model could accelerate progress and broaden its benefits.
science-space
global-unspecified
space
shared
national
haven
solved
make
exploration
not
just
achievement
society-governance
benefits
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
mechanisms
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some compression methods shrink files perfectly for certain data but fail badly on others, and no universal, lossless method works equally well for everything. Solving this could make data storage and transmission dramatically more efficient.
society-governance
global-unspecified
data
haven
solved
compress
information
any
loss
all
types
some
technology-computing
whether
philosophy-ethics
systems
mathematics-logic
african
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Small errors in chaotic systems like weather or turbulence grow so fast that long-term predictions quickly become unreliable. A better mathematical handle on chaos could improve forecasting in countless fields.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
chaotic
systems
haven
found
way
fully
model
accurately
over
long
whether
philosophy-ethics
society-governance
technology-computing
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many real-world systems, from weather to economics, are described by nonlinear equations that resist neat, general solutions. Better methods here would improve prediction across nearly every scientific field.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
general
nonlinear
equations
don
have
method
solve
all
types
real-world
society-governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
mathematics-logic
systems
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As AI systems increasingly influence what billions of people see, believe, and decide, someone is effectively choosing the values baked into those systems. There's no agreed process for who that someone should be, or how they should be held accountable.
society-governance
global-unspecified
decide
values
haven
settled
system
hold
systems
someone
increasingly
technology-computing
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
resolved
economics-resources
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Justice systems around the world vary wildly in how harshly they punish the same crimes, reflecting different beliefs about what punishment is actually for. Whether punishment should aim to rehabilitate, deter, or simply punish remains unresolved.
society-governance
global-unspecified
punishment
justice
don
agree
versus
revenge
punish
systems
around
world
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Climate change, inequality, and other large problems result from systems, not just individual choices, yet blame and responsibility are still often placed on individuals. How we think about this shapes both policy and personal guilt.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
climate-change
responsibility
individuals
systems
haven
agreed
bear
caused
entire
climate
change
society-governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
technology-computing
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Money hidden in tax havens deprives governments of revenue that could fund schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Closing these loopholes requires international cooperation that has so far been difficult to achieve.
society-governance
global-unspecified
tax
havens
don
have
fair
system
prevent
draining
public
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
way
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Companies often move production to wherever labor is cheapest, making it hard for any single country to guarantee fair wages without losing jobs to competitors elsewhere. A coordinated approach across countries remains unresolved.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
guarantee
workers
living
wage
industries
built
competition
companies
often
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
society-governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
New industries, especially in tech, often end up dominated by one or two giant companies before regulation catches up. This can shut out competition and innovation before it even has a chance to grow.
society-governance
global-unspecified
industries
don
have
reliable
way
prevent
monopolies
forming
fast-growing
new
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fewer working-age people are supporting more retirees in many countries, straining pension systems built for a different population balance. Without reform, current retirement systems risk running out of money for future retirees.
society-governance
global-unspecified
retirement
haven
found
sustainable
way
fund
populations
age
worldwide
retirees
systems
whether
philosophy-ethics
technology-computing
resolved
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Despite regulation added after every major crash, financial systems keep finding new ways to become unstable. We still don't have a reliable way to prevent the next one before it happens.
society-governance
global-unspecified
financial
every
stop
markets
crashing
unpredictably
few
decades
despite
regulation
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
don
determine
have
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Billions of dollars in foreign aid have flowed for decades, yet the gap between wealthy and poor nations remains wide. This suggests aid alone isn't the missing piece, and a better approach is still needed.
society-governance
global-unspecified
aid
gap
between
poor
nations
decades
close
wealth
rich
despite
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
have
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
International courts and diplomacy exist, but nations still frequently settle disputes through force when other methods fail or are ignored. A stronger, more trusted system for resolving conflicts peacefully remains unbuilt.
society-governance
global-unspecified
system
disputes
nations
don
have
fairly
resolves
between
resorting
war
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Most democratic input happens only at the ballot box, leaving years between elections where citizens have little formal say in major decisions. Better tools for ongoing public input could make governance more responsive.
society-governance
global-unspecified
citizens
decisions
between
elections
haven
solved
give
real
influence
over
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
public
determine
have
