Final answer:
Hypotheses or unproved assumptions are testable and falsifiable ideas proposed to explain phenomena. They are essential for the advancement of scientific knowledge and must be structured to be either supported or refuted through experimentation or observation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypotheses or unproved assumptions are ideas that are proposed and tested against evidence to determine their validity. A hypothesis is often a starting point in the scientific method for investigating phenomena and acquiring new knowledge. For example, in astronomy, where the notion that no new hypotheses can arise is incorrect, hypotheses continue to be crucial for the advancement of knowledge. Hypotheses must be both testable and falsifiable to be scientifically viable. This means that they must be structured in such a way that they can be supported or refuted through observation or experimentation. For instance, one may hypothesize that "The classroom is warm because no one turned on the air conditioning," which can be tested and confirmed or disproven. It's also worth noting that a hypothesis can never be proven in the absolute sense, as further evidence or better explanations can always potentially emerge.