In today's era, the scientific and technological achievements of mankind have enabled us to realize the dream of "going to the moon in nine days and catching turtles in the five oceans". Not only can we explore the vastness of outer space, but also go deep into the deepest parts of the ocean. Technological leaps have brought us closer to the mysteries of nature than ever before, and despite the tremendous achievements we have made in exploring the outside world, our understanding of what is closest to us – our own bodies – remains relatively superficial. Especially with regard to consciousness, this mysterious force that exists deep within us and guides our thoughts and emotions is still full of unknowns. When we talk about consciousness, many people naturally associate it with the physical structure of the brain. The conventional wisdom holds that consciousness is nothing more than a byproduct of neuronal activity in the brain, a complex interaction of biological and chemical processes. In other words, the existence and functioning of consciousness is confined to the physical organ of the brain.

With the continuous progress of science, especially the development of neuroscience, quantum mechanics and information theory, more and more scholars have begun to put forward a completely different view from the traditional one: consciousness may not be limited to the physical structure of the brain, but may be a form of information that can be found throughout the universe. This emerging theory is called "information body theory". According to this theory, human beings are not only biological individuals composed of physical bodies, but also a complex collection of information that carries deep information that is interconnected with the entire universe. In this information age, we are generating, processing, and transmitting a huge flow of information all the time. From everyday verbal communication to complex biochemical reactions in the body, it can all be seen as the flow of information. In this framework, consciousness is seen as a specific form of information in the brain.

With the continuous progress of science, especially the development of neuroscience, quantum mechanics, and information theory, more and more scholars have begun to put forward a completely different view from the traditional one: consciousness may not be limited to the physical structure of the brain, but a form of information throughout the universe. This emerging theory is known as the "information body theory". According to this theory, human beings are not only biological individuals composed of physical bodies, but also a complex collection of information that carries deep information that is interconnected with the entire universe. In this information age, we generate, process and transmit large amounts of information all the time. From everyday conversations to biochemical reactions in the body, it can be thought of as the flow of information. Under this concept, consciousness is considered to be a specific manifestation of information in the brain.

With advances in quantum mechanics, scientists have realized that information may be one of the fundamental elements that make up the universe, and that its status may even surpass matter and energy. Quantum mechanics reveals many phenomena that go beyond classical physics. One of the most striking is the phenomenon of quantum entanglement. This phenomenon shows that even if two particles are far apart, their instantaneous state changes can still affect each other, as if information transmission is not limited by time and space. This has led scientists to wonder if consciousness also has quantum properties and can function beyond the physical dimension. Some researchers have suggested that consciousness is not only dependent on the physical structure of the brain, but may also possess quantum properties. Famous scientist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Khameroff jointly proposed the theory of "quantum consciousness". They believe that microtubules in the brain may be carriers of quantum information processing. According to their insights, the generation of consciousness is closely related to the superposition and collapse of quantum states. This means that the formation and functioning of consciousness may be rooted in the fundamental rules of quantum physics, rather than just biochemical processes.

If consciousness is indeed related to quantum information, then we can make a bold and challenging hypothesis: consciousness may not be limited to the brain, but a phenomenon that is ubiquitous in the universe. This means that our consciousness may be deeply integrated with the entire universe, or even that our consciousness is part of or operates with the universe. It is no longer a local phenomenon that depends only on material carriers, but may be closely related to the operation of all things in the universe. This theory also provokes a deep reflection on life and existence. If consciousness is indeed a form of information, then our understanding of life needs to be completely reshaped. Traditional biology tends to treat life as a matter-based biological process. However, the theory of quantum consciousness may reveal that life is actually the way in which information exists.

And if this thinking is further applied to consciousness, then our consciousness may also be seen as a node in the information network. According to this line of thinking, our connection to the universe is deeper and more complex than we think. Every star, every particle in the universe, may resonate with our consciousness in a way that we have not yet fully understood. Just as computers rely on code, the "code" of life and the universe may be the flow of information, and each of us only plays a specific role in this vast information network. This theory of the information body raises a profound question: if our bodies die, will consciousness disappear with them? The traditional view of biology is that consciousness is a product of brain activity and relies on complex neural networks and physiological chemical processes. Therefore, when the brain stops working, consciousness will inevitably disappear as well. However, if consciousness is a form of information that transcends matter, then it may not completely dissipate as a result of the death of the body.

This idea is not entirely utopian. Many cultural and philosophical traditions have long believed that the soul or consciousness can still exist in some form after death. For example, the ancient Egyptians believed that souls could be resurrected through rituals; The Hindu concept of reincarnation holds that the soul is reincarnated between different bodies; The Buddhist concept of nirvana sees life and consciousness as part of the cosmic cycle. These seemingly mystical beliefs may find new scientific explanations from the perspective of the theory of quantum consciousness. According to the quantum theory of consciousness, the essence of consciousness is information, and if information can transcend the limitations of material carriers, then we can imagine that consciousness will not disappear after the destruction of the physical body. Instead, it may "return" to the universe in some form, reintegrating into that vast network of information. Just as energy in the universe never really disappears, but simply changes form, consciousness may follow similar rules. This idea bears a striking resemblance to ancient Eastern philosophy. The philosophy of the unity of heaven and man in traditional Chinese culture has long proposed that the universe and human beings are not two separate entities, but a unity that blends with each other.

Consciousness is one of the most mysterious and complex issues for human beings. Although we have scientifically understood the physical structure of the brain and the patterns of neuronal activity, the understanding of the nature of consciousness is still in its infancy. The theory of the information body provides us with a new perspective: consciousness is not only a product of the brain, but may also be a form of information that transcends matter and pervades the universe. Perhaps in the near future, we will demystify consciousness and understand our true connection to the universe. Until then, we can continue to explore this wonderful world of information and matter with curiosity. What do you think about consciousness?