I understand that gravity is the curvature of space time. If that’s true, doesn’t it fully explain gravity? Why do we need gravity waves and/or gravitons?
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Gravity waves are a phenomenon, they were theorised but not observed until recently.
One of the goals of scientists at this moment is to complete the relationship between mass and space-time.
Space-time tells mass how to move and mass tells space-time how to curve/distort.
We already have a good understanding of the first, although the typical explanation is often badly explained
Gravity as we commonly observe is a pseudo-force, like the coriolis force or the centrifugal force, felt and usefull but not actually there.
The more correct explanation relates to general relativity and how the continuous distortion/movement/transformation/curving of spacetime effectively draggs the reality around you downwards and you experience the reaction force from the ground.
( I recommend the ‘scienceclic’ YouTube channel for a more intuitive explanation).
What we do not understand is how mass influences space-time. We know it happens, but not what mechanisms is involved.
Discoveries like the higgs boson are part of this search for an explanation.
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