I apologize for the confusion caused by my previous response. I made an error in stating that transverse waves cannot travel in a vacuum. In reality, electromagnetic waves, including light, can propagate through a vacuum precisely because they are transverse waves.
Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are perpendicular (transverse) to the direction of wave propagation. These waves do not require a medium like air or water to propagate because the electric and magnetic fields are self-sustaining and can propagate through empty space.
This is a fundamental principle of electromagnetic theory described by Maxwell's equations. These equations explain how electric charges and currents give rise to electromagnetic waves, and they predict that these waves can propagate through a vacuum at the speed of light.
In a vacuum, electromagnetic waves travel in a straight line and do not experience significant attenuation or loss of energy over long distances. This is why light from distant stars and galaxies can reach us through the vacuum of space.
To summarize, electromagnetic waves, including light, are transverse waves that can propagate through a vacuum due to the self-sustaining nature of their electric and magnetic fields.