As of the last update, science has not fully explained consciousness. Consciousness—often defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings—is a deeply complex and intriguing phenomenon that remains one of the great mysteries in both philosophy and science.

There are several theories and perspectives about consciousness from various fields such as neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and computational theory, but a complete, universally accepted scientific explanation has not yet been achieved. Here are some key points regarding the scientific exploration of consciousness:

1. **Neuroscientific Approaches**: A significant amount of research investigates how consciousness arises from neurobiological processes. Neuroscientists explore the brain’s neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) by studying how brain activity is linked to conscious experience. Despite substantial advances, this research has not yet led to a full understanding of how or why certain brain processes should give rise to subjective conscious experience.

2. **Quantum Theories**: Some scientists like Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff have speculated that quantum mechanical phenomena might play a role in consciousness, particularly in the brain's microtubules. This approach, however, remains speculative and controversial within the mainstream scientific community.

3. **Integrated Information Theory (IIT)**: Proposed by Giulio Tononi, this theory suggests that consciousness correlates with the capacity of a system to integrate information. This theory offers a framework to measure the level of consciousness in different states and has been influential, though it's still under testing and debate for its practical and empirical implications.

4. **Global Workspace Theory (GWT)**: Developed by cognitive neuroscientist Bernard Baars and further extended by Stanislas Dehaene and others, GWT posits that consciousness involves the brain functions that allow certain processed information to be widely available to other systems within the brain. This is often framed as a "theater" where various mental processes compete for attention, and the "winning" processes enter into a global workspace or conscious awareness.

5. **Philosophical and Phenomenological Approaches**: Philosophical inquiry remains essential, particularly with addressing the "hard problem" of consciousness, a term coined by philosopher David Chalmers. This problem focuses on why and how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experience.

6. **Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness**: There is also ongoing discussion and investigation into whether artificial systems can achieve consciousness, or at least some form of it. This intersects with studies in artificial intelligence, cognitive computing, and robotics.

The study of consciousness is interdisciplinary, requiring input from various scientific, philosophical, and experiential perspectives. While each provides valuable insights, the full nature of consciousness remains elusive, and its complete scientific explanation is pending further breakthroughs and insights.
