Light does not require a medium to travel through. In classical physics, it was believed that light waves required a medium called the "luminiferous ether" to propagate, but subsequent experiments, such as the Michelson-Morley experiment in the late 19th century, failed to detect the existence of such an ether. This led to the development of the theory of special relativity by Albert Einstein, which revolutionized our understanding of light.
According to special relativity, electromagnetic waves, including light, can propagate through a vacuum without the need for a medium. In this framework, light is described as a self-propagating disturbance in electric and magnetic fields, forming transverse waves that can travel through empty space.
Other forms of electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, and gamma rays, also propagate through a vacuum without requiring a medium. They all share the same fundamental nature as light and can travel through space as self-propagating electromagnetic waves.
It is important to note that although light and other electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum, they can still interact with and be affected by matter. For example, they can be absorbed, reflected, or refracted when they encounter a material medium. This interaction with matter allows us to observe and study electromagnetic radiation through various instruments and devices.