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
Medical research benefits enormously from large shared datasets, but combining that with true patient privacy protection remains technically and legally unresolved. Better methods could unlock research without compromising individual privacy.
health-biology
global-unspecified
research
haven
solved
keep
personal
health
data
both
useful
completely
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
whether
technology-computing
resolved
systems
open
United States, North America
Almost all current reusable rocket technology is built for missions close to Earth, while deep space missions still rely on expensive, largely disposable hardware. Extending reusability further out could reshape space exploration economics.
science-space
north-america
united-states
reusable
earth
yet
build
affordable
spacecraft
capable
routine
trips
beyond
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
space
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Precious samples brought back from the Moon or asteroids need to remain scientifically useful for generations of future researchers. Long-term sample preservation technology hasn't fully caught up with mission ambitions.
science-space
global-unspecified
samples
haven
found
way
store
scientific
space
missions
any
risk
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
society-governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ocean currents regulate weather and temperature worldwide, and small changes could have outsized global effects. Current climate models still can't predict these shifts with the precision policymakers need.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
climate-change
predict
climate
ocean
currents
yet
exactly
change
will
alter
over
society-governance
governance
building
whether
philosophy-ethics
open
United States, North America
Thousands of victims from past wars and disasters remain unidentified, leaving families without closure decades later. Better, cheaper identification methods could resolve many of these long-standing cases.
health-biology
north-america
united-states
disasters
don
have
reliable
affordable
way
identify
unmarked
human
remains
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Finding the shortest possible route visiting a long list of locations becomes exponentially harder as the list grows, and no fully efficient general solution exists. Logistics, chip design, and delivery networks all run into this limit.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
solution
locations
don
have
complete
traveling
salesman
very
large
numbers
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
know
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Allowing payment for organs or surrogacy could increase availability and help people in need, but also raises concerns about exploitation of the poor. Society remains deeply divided on where ethical limits should sit.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
ethical
organs
haven
settled
whether
allow
markets
exist
things
like
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some products, like social media or certain foods, are deliberately designed to be highly engaging or addictive, raising questions about the maker's moral responsibility for resulting harm.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
responsibility
products
addictive
don
agree
companies
bear
societal
effects
know
whether
resolved
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Reviving extinct species raises questions about ecological impact, animal welfare, and whether it's truly meant to help nature or satisfy human curiosity. There's no consensus on whether this is a responsible use of the technology.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
extinct
species
technology
don
agree
ethical
bring
back
genetic
resolved
haven
know
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Decisions today about climate, resource use, or nuclear waste will affect people who haven't been born yet and have no way to advocate for themselves. How much their future interests should count remains genuinely unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
haven
future
yet
settled
moral
weight
given
potential
humans
don
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
way
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Modern technology can track location, health, and behavior far more intimately than ever before, and there's no agreed line for when this crosses from useful into invasive.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
technology
haven
found
shared
ethical
standard
surveillance
allowed
know
modern
whether
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Decisions about resource use often weigh immediate economic gain against long-term environmental cost, and there's no settled ethical formula for how to balance the two fairly.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
environmental
against
economic
don
agree
weight
future
damage
carry
present-day
whether
resolved
determine
haven
know
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some jurisdictions already use AI risk assessments to help judges decide sentences, raising concerns about fairness, bias, and accountability. Whether machines should have this level of influence over human freedom remains ethically unresolved.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
haven
agreed
ethical
make
final
decisions
criminal
sentencing
some
resolved
know
mathematics-logic
determine
don
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Gig work can offer flexibility but often comes with unpredictable income swings that make financial planning difficult for workers. A system that offers more income stability without eliminating flexibility remains unresolved.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
income
gig
workers
yet
ensure
economy
have
predictable
stable
despite
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
informal
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Public transit systems that depend heavily on fares often struggle financially, leading to service cuts that push more people toward driving. A more sustainable funding model remains unresolved in many cities.
local-regional
global-unspecified
sustainable
public
transit
cities
haven
found
way
fund
relying
entirely
society-governance
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
systems
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
New, fast-growing markets often attract inexperienced investors right before major price crashes, leading to significant personal financial losses. Protecting newer investors without stifling innovation remains an unresolved balance.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
investors
markets
inexperienced
yet
prevent
speculative
bubbles
emerging
asset
like
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
haven
mathematics-logic
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Access to affordable business loans is heavily skewed toward people who already have assets or established credit, locking out many capable entrepreneurs. A fairer lending system remains an unresolved economic gap.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
business
lending
entrepreneurs
credit
yet
make
small
fair
accessible
existing
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
don
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Aid money is sometimes available quickly after a disaster, but reaches affected people slowly due to administrative bottlenecks. Cutting this delay without sacrificing accountability remains a persistent logistical challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
disaster
people
delay
yet
make
relief
funding
reach
right
excessive
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
haven
resolved
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Surveillance capabilities often grow quietly, justified by security concerns, with limited public awareness or debate about their true scope. Building lasting oversight mechanisms remains a persistent democratic challenge.
society-governance
global-unspecified
surveillance
public
oversight
don
have
reliable
way
prevent
government
programs
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
People with more money can typically afford far better legal defense than those without, creating uneven outcomes within the same justice system. Equalizing access to quality legal representation remains a persistent gap in many countries.
society-governance
global-unspecified
legal
access
representation
yet
ensure
equal
regardless
person
income
people
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
remains
have
