I tell time by copying the sun's refusal to stand still; indoors I am useless, and at noon I almost disappear. What am I? - Answer & Hint

I tell time by copying the sun's refusal to stand still; indoors I am useless, and at noon I almost disappear. What am I?

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Hint: The gnomon casts me.

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The answer is

A sundial's shadow

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A sundial uses the position of a shadow cast by its gnomon to show time. Indoors it lacks sunlight, and near noon the shadow is shortest.

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Ten seconds before midnight I make a room loud; ten seconds before an exam I make it silent. Same numbers, different feeling. What am I?

Type:LogicTime

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The answer is

A countdown

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I find cracks before publication, improve an argument by pressing its weak points, and work best when the attack is fair. What am I?

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The answer is

Peer review

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Scientists trust me only after trying to prove me wrong; assume me without testing and I am just a guess. What am I?

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The answer is

A hypothesis