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
Addressing stigma around disease continuing is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
stigma
around
disease
continuing
2030
mathematics-logic
The problem of growing seasons changing continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
growing
seasons
changing
strengthening
global
other
coastal cities threatened by rising seas remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.
coastal
cities
threatened
rising
seas
other
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving high burden of heart disease. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
high
burden
heart
disease
establishing
health-biology
emergence of new infectious diseases remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.
emergence
new
infectious
diseases
building
health-biology
The problem of insects expanding their range and spreading disease continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
insects
expanding
range
spreading
disease
other
The problem of overfishing emptying the seas continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
overfishing
emptying
seas
strengthening
global
other
rapid spread of plant diseases remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.
rapid
spread
plant
diseases
building
health-biology
The problem of open defecation continuing to spread disease continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
open
defecation
continuing
spread
disease
other
The problem of household cooking with wood and charcoal causing lung disease continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
household
cooking
wood
charcoal
causing
other
Addressing widespread diseases caused by contaminated water is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
widespread
diseases
caused
contaminated
water
mathematics-logic
Many agricultural and infrastructure systems are designed around historical seasons that may no longer exist. A useful solution must help governments revise calendars, reservoirs, insurance, crops, and public budgets under deep uncertainty. The solution must work with limited capital, intermittent services, and local maintenance capacity. The research opportunity is to define measurable success criteria, test the approach in realistic settings, identify failure modes, and create a pathway from prototype to accountable deployment.
society-governance
africa
kenya
planning
permanent
changes
seasonal
rainfall
low-income
communities
solution
must
agricultural
technology-computing
economics-resources
climate-environment
systems
infrastructure
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ageing populations, urban diets, and pollution will drive surges in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions. Scalable chronic-care models, digital coaching tools, and preventive policy reforms are needed.
society-governance
global-unspecified
policy-reform
will
non-communicable
diseases
dominate
mortality
low-income
countries
2040
ageing
populations
health-biology
health
climate-environment
non
communicable
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
By the 2030s and 2040s, extreme heat and shifting mosquito ranges will expand malaria, dengue, and other infections into new regions. Heat-health early-warning systems and climate-sensitive disease-modelling platforms must be deployed.
health-biology
global-unspecified
climate-change
will
climate
change
amplify
heat-related
illness
vector-borne
diseases
2030s
2040s
climate-environment
society-governance
systems
governance
building
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Genomic and biomarker-driven therapies will transform oncology and rare disease care, but high costs and limited capacity risk concentrating benefits in wealthy populations. Fair pricing, global data-sharing, and low-cost diagnostics will be critical.
health-biology
global-unspecified
will
limited
precision
medicine
create
new
inequalities
access
remains
genomic
society-governance
economics-resources
whether
institutions
philosophy-ethics
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mega-cities will produce unique mixtures of traffic accidents, air pollution, and sedentary lifestyles. Urban health observatories and built-environment intervention tools will be critical.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
air-pollution
will
pollution
urbanisation
drive
new
patterns
injury
exposure
lifestyle
disease
health
health-biology
air
african
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ultra-processed foods, changing agriculture, and altered gut microbiota may fuel future epidemics of obesity and metabolic disease. Microbiome-targeted therapies and nutrition-policy analytics will be important.
health-biology
global-unspecified
will
metabolic
food-system
transformations
reshape
human
microbiomes
health
ultra-processed
foods
climate-environment
new
society-governance
technology-computing
food
system
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Displaced populations will need continuity of care for chronic diseases and mental health. Portable health records and mobile-clinic platforms can help.
health-biology
global-unspecified
mental-health
will
climate-linked
displacement
create
new
health-service
needs
migrants
health
displaced
mental
access
society-governance
african
care
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Displaced populations will need continuity of care for chronic diseases and mental health. Portable health records and mobile-clinic platforms can help.
health-biology
global-unspecified
mental-health
will
climate-linked
displacement
create
new
health-service
needs
migrants
variant
focuses
health
infrastructure
data
society-governance
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Lyme disease, dengue, and other infections may reach new regions. Integrated vector-surveillance and control platforms will be crucial.
health-biology
global-unspecified
will
disease
climate-induced
expansion
tick
mosquito
habitats
change
geography
lyme
society-governance
governance
building
cities
new