The mainstream physics community defines gravitational waves as ripples caused by spacetime curvature. Based on observations of neutron star mergers and black hole collisions, this paper proposes a new explanation: gravitational waves originate from the instant conversion of mass into energy, photons and light during extreme astrophysical processes. The reduction of mass leads to a sudden decrease and fluctuation of gravity; such disturbances propagate through space and are detected on Earth. This explanation follows basic physical laws, is logically self-consistent, and reveals the true nature of gravitational waves without additional hypotheses about spacetime deformation.
Jiaqing Yan (Tue,) studied this question.