A groundbreaking new theory from Professor Maria Strømme, a nanotechnology expert at Uppsala University, suggests that consciousness might not originate from the brain at all.
Instead, she proposes that consciousness exists as a fundamental field—a basic building block of the universe itself.
According to Professor Strømme, this could reshape how we understand phenomena often considered mysterious, from near-death experiences to telepathy, and even the possibility of life after death.
Consciousness Might Continue After Death
If the theory holds, death is not the end of consciousness.
Professor Strømme explains that when a person dies, their awareness simply returns to the universal consciousness field, rather than ceasing entirely.
She told the Daily Mail: “The fundamental substrate of awareness does not begin or end with the body, just as the ocean does not begin or end with the appearance of a single wave.
Individual consciousness is a localised excitation within this universal field.”
In simpler terms, our sense of being “separate” might just be an illusion—a temporary wave in the vast ocean of consciousness.
Linking Quantum Physics to Consciousness
Professor Strømme draws parallels between consciousness and concepts in quantum physics.
Traditional theories describe particles and energy as emerging from vibrations in a fundamental field.
She now proposes that this field might itself be conscious.
This model could even explain the famous Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment, in which a cat in a box is simultaneously alive and dead until observed.
If consciousness is fundamental, our awareness may be directly interacting with reality in ways science has yet to fully comprehend.
Science and Phenomena Once Dismissed
If consciousness is a universal field, phenomena historically labeled as pseudoscience could deserve rigorous scientific investigation.
Near-death experiences, for instance, often include visions of deceased loved ones, religious figures, or premonitions of the future.
Professor Strømme suggests that moments when the brain is impaired—like during trauma or near-death experiences—may allow access to the deeper field of consciousness.
Similarly, telepathy and other psychic phenomena might be scientifically testable if all minds share the same underlying field.
Religious and Cultural Parallels
The theory also resonates with descriptions found in major religious texts.
The Bible, the Koran, and the Vedas describe an interconnected awareness, which could be seen as metaphorical accounts of a universal consciousness.
Early quantum physicists, too, hinted at these ideas through scientific inquiry, bridging the gap between spiritual insight and modern physics.
Professor Strømme emphasizes that it’s time for natural science to rigorously explore these concepts rather than leaving them in the realm of philosophy or metaphysics.
Near-Death Experiences Offer Clues
Recent studies of 48 near-death experiences reveal recurring themes.
Participants describe encounters with figures like Jesus or God, beautiful gardens, deceased loved ones, and even visions of the future.
Some report traveling through tunnels or seeing vast networks resembling a “matrix” connecting all points in the universe.
Others describe intense, enveloping light, floating sensations, or surreal phenomena like escalators in darkness.
Such experiences, Strømme argues, may reflect access to the universal consciousness field when normal brain functions are disrupted.
Implications for the Mind and Reality
If Strømme’s theory is correct, meditation, emotional attunement, and other altered states of consciousness could be ways to tap into this shared field.
Brain scans of individuals in such states might one day provide empirical evidence for the interconnectedness of consciousness.
Ultimately, this theory challenges the conventional view that the mind is solely a product of the brain and opens the door to scientific exploration of experiences previously dismissed as paranormal.
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