I think you are underestimating the complexity of such problems. A PhD in the exact field of research would need days to weeks to understand what the problem means and how to solve it. This is far beyond "throwing standard techniques" at a problem. (But, I keep emphasizing this, it is also far away from solving research mathematics.)
replyWhat did I say that led you to believe I was underestimating the complexity? I don't believe I commented on it at all.
replyWhen you write "there's a notable difference between performing a literature search versus solving something de novo", you suggest that the questions we provided can be solved doing a literature search.
replyThis is incorrect. What is correct is the following: When understanding the existing literature on a question in the dataset, one can derive the answer without creating new mathematics research.
So the difference is "searching the literature" vs "understanding the literature" that made me believe it. But if you didn't that's even better!
I can recommend reading section 2 of the paper.
replyThe goal was not to define unsolved problems.
But as such, the problems are also not previously published problems.
This seems quite reasonable IMHO.