Consciousness as the foundation: New theory addresses nature of reality
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Consciousness as the foundation: New theory addresses nature of reality
by Annica Hulth, Uppsala University
edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan
Is this a completely new theory of how reality and the universe are structured?
"Yes, you could say so. But above all, it is a theory in which consciousness comes first, and structures such as time, space and matter arise afterwards. It is a very ambitious attempt to describe how our experienced reality functions. Physicists like Einstein, Schrödinger, Heisenberg and Planck explored similar ideas, and I am building on several of the avenues they opened," says Strømme.
Uniting quantum physics with philosophy
For many years, Strømme has worked on a quantum-mechanical model that unites quantum physics with non-dual philosophy. The theory is based on the idea that consciousness constitutes the fundamental element of reality, and that individual consciousnesses are parts of a larger, interconnected field.
In this model, phenomena that are now perceived as "mysterious"—such as telepathy or near-death experiences—can be explained as natural consequences of a shared field of consciousness.
"My ambition has been to describe this using the language of physics and mathematical tools. Are these phenomena really mystical? Or is it simply that there is a discovery we have not yet made, and when we do it will lead to a paradigm shift?"
Similar shifts in our understanding of reality have taken place before in history—such as when humanity realized that Earth is round and not flat, or when we understood that it is not the sun that revolves around Earth, but vice versa.
A new picture of the nature of reality
Strømme believes this may be the beginning of a new way of viewing the universe and the lives we perceive ourselves to be living. Her article offers several testable predictions within physics, neuroscience and cosmology. In doing so, she takes a major step outside her usual research field of materials science.
Her theory also suggests that our individual consciousness does not cease at death, but returns to the universal field of consciousness from which it once emerged. This, too, she has formulated in quantum-mechanical terms.
"I am a materials scientist and engineer, so I am used to seeing matter as something fundamental. But according to this model, matter is secondary—much of what we experience is representation or illusion," says Strømme.
A theory that reconciles science with ancient knowledge
Although the article is written strictly in the mathematical language of physics, the reasoning contains parallels to several of the world's religious and philosophical traditions.
"The texts of the major religions—such as the Bible, the Koran, and the Vedas—often describe an interconnected consciousness. Those who wrote them used metaphorical language to express insights about the nature of reality. Early quantum physicists, in turn, arrived at similar ideas using scientific methods. Now, it is time for hardcore science—that is, modern natural science—to seriously begin exploring this," says Strømme.
Publication details
Maria Strømme, Universal consciousness as foundational field: A theoretical bridge between quantum physics and non-dual philosophy, AIP Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1063/5.0290984
Journal information: AIP Advances
Provided by Uppsala University