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
Transporting fuel and life support reagents from Earth is economically non-viable for sustained settlements. We need robust robotic systems capable of excavating, purifying, and processing icy regolith under extreme thermal conditions.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
in-situ
extraction
refining
water
ice
mars
moon
remains
unproven
scale
systems
society-governance
climate-environment
under
ensuring
real
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Dark energy accounts for roughly 68% of the universe, yet its equation of state and microscopic nature remain complete mysteries. Precise mapping of cosmic expansion over time is crucial for predicting the ultimate fate of space-time.
science-space
global-unspecified
expansion
universe
dark
energy
exact
cause
accelerating
unknown
accounts
roughly
know
understand
mathematics-logic
matter
fully
whether
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Carrington-level space weather events can destroy global electrical grids, communication satellites, and orbital stations. Advanced space-based magnetometers and AI predictive models are required for early warning systems.
science-space
global-unspecified
cannot
reliably
predict
solar
coronal
mass
ejections
breach
earth
magnetosphere
systems
climate-environment
space
weather
infrastructure
society-governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Transit times to Mars and the outer planets require months to years of flight, increasing risk and cost. Breakthrough high-thrust, high-Isp propulsion systems—such as nuclear thermal or plasma engines—are critical.
science-space
global-unspecified
chemical
rockets
too
slow
efficient
human
payload
transport
solar
system
systems
society-governance
ensuring
informal
safety
reliability
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Hydrogen and oxygen boil off due to solar radiation in orbit, prohibiting long-duration storage for deep space stages. Advanced active cryocooling, sunshields, and zero-boil-off insulation technologies are required.
science-space
global-unspecified
boil
off
storage
cryogenic
liquid
propellants
rapidly
during
long-term
orbital
climate-environment
long
society-governance
safe
technologies
smallholder
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Current space stations must re-supply metabolic consumables, water filtration media, and trace contaminant gases from Earth. Fully regenerative bio-synthetic life support systems are essential for long-term lunar and Martian outposts.
science-space
global-unspecified
life
support
systems
100
closed-loop
environmental
control
eclss
not
exist
society-governance
climate-environment
technology-computing
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
whether
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
Navigating craft and rovers on the lunar farside or in deep space relies heavily on congested Earth ground antenna networks. Scalable lunar and deep-space autonomous navigation and timing constellations are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
space
positioning
systems
like
gps
not
extend
moon
interplanetary
whether
philosophy-ethics
infrastructure
mathematics-logic
protection
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
General relativity governs massive scale gravity while quantum mechanics governs atomic scales, but they break down together at black hole singularities. Developing a unified Theory of Quantum Gravity is the holy grail of theoretical physics.
science-space
global-unspecified
quantum
mechanics
general
relativity
theories
remain
fundamentally
incompatible
governs
gravity
technology-computing
mathematics-logic
whether
philosophy-ethics
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Plants grown in space suffer from water-logging and oxygen starvation around roots due to absence of buoyancy-driven convection. Developing autonomous micro-fluidic aeration root systems is essential for growing fresh crops in space.
science-space
global-unspecified
space
root
systems
microgravity
prevents
normal
fluid
movement
plant
limiting
society-governance
technology-computing
ensuring
autonomous
whether
public
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Landers currently depend on pre-mapped terrain, which leaves them vulnerable to boulders, unexpected slopes, and dust plumes during touchdown. Ultra-fast optical-LiDAR terrain-relative navigation is needed for safe pinpoint landing.
science-space
global-unspecified
landing
terrain
autonomous
real-time
rugged
unstructured
planetary
remains
high
risk
navigation
when
deep
space
optical
rovers
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Martian dust storms and atmospheric tides cause rapid density shifts that alter entry trajectories and threaten landers. Real-time satellite atmosphere sensing and adaptive guidance systems are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
atmospheric
entry
density
high-density
planetary
prediction
inaccurate
due
variable
upper-atmosphere
systems
real
time
society-governance
detecting
sensing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Current life support distillation systems build up volatile organics and salts, degrading filtration membranes quickly. Next-generation electrochemical and enzymatic water purification systems are needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
water
recycling
human
sweat
urine
space
yields
toxic
trace
contaminants
systems
society-governance
climate-environment
technology-computing
whether
economics-resources
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Because operators on Earth must check every step, rovers cover only meters per day on distant worlds. Fully autonomous, vision-guided AI navigation system operating locally on edge hardware is needed.
science-space
global-unspecified
rovers
robotic
planetary
move
far
too
slowly
over
unfamiliar
terrain
autonomous
lack
systems
algorithms
decentralized
satellite
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Variable space weather causes unpredictable upper atmosphere expansion, creating atmospheric drag that alters satellite orbits without warning. Space situational awareness requires real-time upper-atmosphere mapping.
science-space
global-unspecified
lack
precise
continuous
monitoring
earth
thermosphere
ionosphere
mass
density
space
enabling
society-governance
technologies
systems
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
To achieve high efficiency, nuclear thermal engines must run hydrogen propellant at temperatures over 2,500 K, which corrodes reactor cores. Development of advanced ultra-high-temperature carbide and nitride nuclear ceramics is vital.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
nuclear
thermal
propulsion
reactors
suffer
rapid
degradation
fuel
elements
extreme
lack
science-space
systems
continuous
verification
solutions
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Collecting samples from Venus or deep Martian canyons requires multi-stage rockets launching autonomously from foreign surfaces. Lightweight planetary ascent vehicles and automated orbital rendezvous systems must be built.
science-space
global-unspecified
systems
planetary
lack
autonomous
sample
return
missions
high-gravity
worlds
collecting
society-governance
technology-computing
climate-environment
economics-resources
ensuring
public
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Atmospheric pressure and temperatures inside gas giants destroy probes long before reaching their cores. Advanced gravitational mapping, seismic sensors, and neutrino probes are needed to uncover their core states.
science-space
global-unspecified
gas
cannot
directly
study
interior
structures
giant
planets
like
jupiter
climate-environment
internal
dynamics
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty is ambiguous regarding commercial resource extraction and private property. Clear, enforceable international frameworks are needed to encourage private investment in off-world mining.
science-space
global-unspecified
private
mining
property
there
standardized
legal
framework
asteroid
rights
orbital
society-governance
governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
technology-computing
public
