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
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Antarctic waters absorb large fractions of excess heat and CO2, yet models disagree on future behaviour and feedbacks. Expanded biogeochemical observing systems and process studies can refine global climate models.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
heat
southern
ocean
role
carbon
uptake
poorly
constrained
models
antarctic
systems
society-governance
climate
global-unspecified
whether
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Higher CO2 reduces carbonate availability. Global emission cuts are the primary solution.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
ocean
acidification
threatens
shell-forming
organisms
higher
co2
reduces
carbonate
availability
society-governance
technologies
enabling
continuous
monitoring
restoration
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Chemical lithium-hydroxide canisters are consumable, heavy, and wasteful for multi-year missions. Algae photo-bioreactors capable of converting human exhaled CO2 directly into oxygen and edible protein are required.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
human
lack
closed-loop
biological
carbon
dioxide
scrubbers
spacecraft
cabins
chemical
society-governance
solutions
long
mathematics-logic
science-space
term
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Converting Mars' 95% CO2 atmosphere into plastics, methane, and industrial reagents requires complex catalysts that foul quickly. High-efficiency solid oxide electrolysis systems optimized for dirty ambient gas are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
industrial
cannot
reliably
synthesize
high-purity
chemicals
martian
atmospheric
carbon
dioxide
methane
systems
society-governance
fast
growing
high
open
Costa Rica, North America
Despite recognition of its importance, reliable methods for biotechnologies converting methane and CO2 into high-value chemicals and proteins are still lacking. Progress is hindered by incomplete mechanistic knowledge, high capital and operational barriers, and the absence of deployment models suited to the contexts of greatest need.
climate-environment
north-america
costa-rica
biotechnologies
converting
methane
co2
high-value
chemicals
proteins
practical
realization
despite
methods
systems
barriers
society-governance
high
open
United States, North America
A persistent gap exists in realizing practical, scalable solutions for biotechnologies for engineering organisms that produce high-value compounds from CO2 and renewable energy. Scientific understanding, engineering readiness and institutional capacity remain insufficient to translate promising concepts into durable impact under real-world constraints of cost, skills and governance.
society-governance
north-america
united-states
renewable-energy
engineering
practical
biotechnologies
organisms
produce
high-value
compounds
co2
renewable
energy
solutions
systems
methods
scalable
open
Chile, South America
The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for city-scale anthropogenic versus biogenic CO2 attribution networks creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.
society-governance
south-america
chile
solutions
city-scale
anthropogenic
versus
biogenic
co2
attribution
networks
scalable
absence
systems
climate-environment
methods
robust
enabling
Despite recognition of its importance, reliable methods for biotechnologies for engineering microorganisms that convert atmospheric CO2 into useful products are still lacking. Progress is hindered by incomplete mechanistic knowledge, high capital and operational barriers, and the absence of deployment models suited to the contexts of greatest need.
climate-environment
oceania
fiji
biotechnologies
engineering
microorganisms
convert
atmospheric
co2
useful
products
development
despite
methods
systems
society-governance
barriers
high
open
Colombia, South America
The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for biotechnologies enabling plants to thrive under elevated CO2 salinity and heat stress creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.
society-governance
south-america
colombia
solutions
biotechnologies
enabling
plants
thrive
under
elevated
co2
salinity
heat
systems
climate-environment
methods
technologies
robust
open
Solomon Islands, Oceania
The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for materials enabling reversible CO2 capture and conversion to useful products creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.
society-governance
oceania
solomon-islands
materials
enabling
reversible
co2
capture
conversion
useful
products
development
absence
solutions
systems
climate-environment
robust
methods