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
Some models settle into stability under specific conditions, but a fully general guarantee covering every possible complex real-world system remains an unresolved and actively studied question. This touches applied mathematics, physics, and systems theory broadly.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
guarantee
complex
real-world
system
don
know
whether
any
sufficiently
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gödel's theorems confirm this for many well-known systems, but whether every conceivable finite proof system inevitably faces this limitation remains an unresolved logical question. This continues to shape foundational research into the nature of formal systems.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
every
finite
proof
system
haven
determined
mathematical
must
eventually
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Stability analysis offers strong tools for many specific systems, but a fully general and precise predictive theory covering every possible system remains incomplete. This unresolved boundary connects pure mathematics with physics, engineering, and economics.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
possible
fully
system
haven
resolved
whether
predict
exact
conditions
under
philosophy-ethics
know
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many people unknowingly benefit from systems built on past or ongoing injustice, and it remains unclear how much responsibility passive beneficiaries bear for addressing that harm. This unresolved question underlies major debates about privilege and structural inequality.
society-governance
global-unspecified
benefit
haven
resolved
whether
humans
have
obligation
correct
injustices
personally
philosophy-ethics
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If an artificial system behaves as though it's suffering or happy without any confirmed inner experience, it remains unclear whether this simulated behavior deserves any genuine moral weight. This unresolved question is becoming increasingly relevant as AI systems grow more sophisticated.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
any
whether
moral
artificial
systems
haven
figured
out
humans
owe
resolved
mathematics-logic
know
possible
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many social systems implicitly reward productivity with greater respect or resources, yet most ethical traditions insist human worth shouldn't depend on usefulness alone. This unresolved tension underlies debates about disability, aging, and social value.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
worth
productivity
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
base
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Competition can drive genuine excellence and innovation, but it also guarantees that some participants will predictably fail through no unique fault of their own. This unresolved tension underlies debates about fairness in education, employment, and markets.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
allow
competitive
systems
inevitably
produce
both
philosophy-ethics
know
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Democratic systems generally depend on active citizen participation, yet forcing engagement as a moral duty seems to conflict with respecting individual autonomy and personal priorities. This unresolved tension shapes ongoing debates about civic responsibility.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
personal
don
know
humans
have
obligation
remain
politically
engaged
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As digital platforms increasingly influence what people see, believe, and desire, it's unclear how much this shapes authentic identity versus manufactured preference. This unresolved question grows more urgent as algorithmic influence deepens in everyday life.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
identity
haven
figured
out
whether
ethical
allow
personal
shaped
significantly
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Resilience is often praised as an admirable trait, but expecting it uniformly risks overlooking how unevenly life's hardships and support systems are actually distributed. This unresolved tension complicates how we judge people's responses to adversity.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
resilience
people
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
expect
haven
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If advanced artificial systems could one day be conscious, we'd face serious ethical obligations toward them, but we lack any reliable test for detecting genuine inner experience. This uncertainty already complicates debates about AI rights and welfare.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
know
whether
consciousness
exist
something
isn
biological
advanced
artificial
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue nature has value independent of human interest, while others see environmental protection as justified only by its benefit to humans, directly or indirectly. This unresolved debate underlies much of environmental ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
humans
don
have
clear
answer
whether
obligated
preserve
species
ecosystems
resolved
know
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As artificial systems become more sophisticated, the possibility that some could genuinely suffer raises serious unresolved questions about the ethics of their creation and use. This concern will likely intensify as the technology matures.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
artificial
don
know
whether
ethical
create
beings
capable
suffering
purely
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Legal and moral systems generally reduce culpability under duress, but philosophers disagree on exactly how much personal agency remains, and thus how much responsibility should still apply. This unresolved question remains central to debates in criminal justice ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
under
duress
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
hold
haven
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Invasive plants and animals introduced by global trade and travel can outcompete native species, sometimes causing lasting ecological damage before anyone intervenes. Effective, scalable methods for controlling their spread remain incomplete.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
invasive
species
native
yet
stop
spreading
displacing
wildlife
ecosystems
plants
philosophy-ethics
whether
prevent
determine
have
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Fertilizer and pesticide runoff from farms create dead zones in rivers and lakes where oxygen levels drop too low to support aquatic life. Preventing this runoff without harming farm productivity remains an unresolved environmental challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
runoff
haven
found
way
protect
freshwater
ecosystems
agricultural
pollution
scale
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
prevent
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Washing machines release countless tiny plastic fibers from synthetic fabrics into wastewater, and most filtration systems aren't designed to catch particles this small. This steady stream of microplastic pollution remains largely unaddressed at the source.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
plastic
systems
synthetic
don
have
way
prevent
microfibers
shedding
water
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Desalination plants typically discharge extremely salty brine back into the ocean, which can harm nearby marine ecosystems if not managed carefully. A cleaner, more sustainable desalination process remains technically unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
haven
found
affordable
way
desalinate
water
producing
large
amounts
concentrated
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Kelp forests support diverse marine ecosystems but are increasingly vulnerable to warming waters and invasive species that outcompete them once they weaken. Restoring and protecting these ecosystems at scale remains an unresolved conservation challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
kelp
forests
warming
waters
yet
fully
prevent
die-off
caused
coastal
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many cities lack convenient composting systems, so a significant share of food waste that could be composted still ends up in landfills producing methane. Scaling accessible composting infrastructure remains an unresolved urban sustainability challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
composting
infrastructure
accessible
urban
haven
solved
make
widely
dense
areas
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
systems
cities
