What are the most important unsolved problems in science today? That question was put to 100 scientists across a wide range of disciplines, and their answers — published as a collection of provocations — point to deep uncertainties about the origins of life, the possibilities for human progress, and much more.
The responses, gathered from researchers working in fields spanning biology, physics, neuroscience, and the social sciences, highlight how much remains unknown even as scientific knowledge expands. Rather than a single consensus list, the exercise produced a diverse set of challenges that individual scientists consider most urgent in their own areas of expertise.
Among the recurring themes is the question of how life began. Despite decades of research into the chemistry of early Earth, the precise sequence of events that turned non-living matter into the first self-replicating organisms remains unresolved. Scientists continue to debate whether life emerged in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, in shallow pools, or through some other pathway entirely.
Another major area of inquiry concerns human progress itself. Researchers asked to weigh in on the future of humanity raised questions about whether continued technological and social advancement is guaranteed, what limits might constrain it, and how societies should navigate the ethical and political dimensions of scientific change. These questions sit at the intersection of science and policy, reflecting the magazine's view that research does not exist in isolation from the broader culture.
The survey also touches on long-standing mysteries in fundamental physics, including the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and on open problems in neuroscience such as the biological basis of consciousness. In each case, the scientists framed their questions not as idle speculation but as concrete research targets that could reshape their fields.
What makes the collection notable is its breadth. Rather than focusing on a single discipline, it draws on perspectives from across the scientific community, from genetics and ecology to astronomy and medicine. The result is a portrait of science as a work in progress, driven by curiosity and by the recognition that many of the most important answers are still out of reach.
For readers, the exercise offers a reminder that scientific progress is not simply a matter of accumulating facts. It also involves identifying the right questions — the ones that, if answered, would open up new avenues of inquiry and deepen our understanding of the natural world and our place in it.
The scientists' responses vary in tone and scope, but they share a common thread: a willingness to acknowledge uncertainty and to treat unresolved problems as opportunities rather than failures. That attitude, the collection suggests, is central to how science advances.
While the survey does not claim to be exhaustive or representative of all researchers, it provides a useful snapshot of where the scientific community sees the frontier of knowledge today. The questions raised are likely to shape research agendas for years to come, influencing everything from funding priorities to public debate about the role of science in society.
As the collection makes clear, the biggest questions in science are not always the ones that make headlines. They are often the ones that scientists themselves consider most fundamental — and most difficult to answer. By asking 100 researchers to name them, the project offers a rare look at what keeps the scientific community up at night.
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