Per 
SCP-XXXX.
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be kept in a 15x15x15 meter room in Site-63. The room must be in a state of vacuum at all times. SCP-XXXX is to be suspended in the center of the room by a graphene thread, so as to expose a minimal amount of matter.
The room is to be equipped with no less than four (4) Chalmers-Spinoza Consciousness Nullifiers (hereafter 'CSCN'). The status of the CSCNs is to be checked daily by on-site staff.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a regular H2B pencil with a blue exterior. Besides its anomalous effects, SCP-XXXX's size, shape, originally-intended function and appearance are within ordinary parameters. SCP-XXXX's anomalous properties manifest themselves when any matter comes within approximately eleven (11) meters from SCP-XXXX. Any matter than enters this radius of effect will become conscious. The level of consciousness varies, though it falls almost always between levels 1 and █ of the Hameroff-Penrose Consciousness Scale (detailed below). SCP-XXXX itself is thought to possess no consciousness.
Trained thaumaturgists can determine whether a certain entity affected by SCP-XXXX possesses consciousness, and to which extent. Thaumaturgists can also perceive the subjective-phenomenal "thoughts" of said entities - given that, although they are conscious, they possess no means of communication.
Before acquiring its anomalous properties, SCP-XXXX was a regular pencil used by the late Doctor Roger Penrose, English mathematician, physicist and philosopher. Penrose was working with psychologist Doctor Stuart Hameroff in their joint theory of quantum consciousness. It is believed -though not confirmed-, that SCP-XXXX somehow gained its anomalous characteristics as a result of Dr Penrose's work on the nature of consciousness.
Addenda:
Consciousness scale:
The following is a table detailing the Hameroff-Penrose scale of consciousness. The scale has been verified jointly by the Foundation's Scientific Department and the Department of Thaumaturgy.
| Consciousness Level |
Closest natural equivalent |
Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
Inanimate objects, unicellular organisms, plants |
No consciousness | Panpsychist thaumaturgists would determine this level to be "baseline consciousness" |
| 1 |
Animals except for most mammals |
Basic qualia, ethological non-awareness, deterministic | - |
| 2 |
Most mammals, human infants |
Advanced qualia, certain degree of self-awareness, non-ethological behavior present | - |
| 3 |
Most humans |
Epiphenomenal qualia, complete self-awareness, free-will | - |
| 4 |
[DATA EXPUNGED] |
[DATA EXPUNGED] | [DATA EXPUNGED] |
Recovery log: On the 23rd of October 2020, at 8:58 AM, Doctor Penrose entered the Clarendon Laboratory in the University of Oxford campus, where he has an office for research and investigation. He stepped into his office at 9:07. At 11:01, the surveillance camera on the corridor next to said office ceased functioning. At 11:15, the door to Penrose's office █████████ ██████ █████████ ███ █████████ ██ █████. At 11:49, MTF Rho-1 ("The Professors") was dispatched to Oxford University in an effort to contain SCP-XXXX. Before it was finally secured, ██ human casualties (including █ Foundation operatives) and ████ non-human casualties (see Addendum: Ethics Committee) were directly or indirectly caused by SCP-XXXX. Dr Penrose became missing, presumed dead. Class-A amnestics were administered to ███ university staff and students.
Test logs: Several experiments were carried out in an effort to learn the extent of SCP-XXXX's anomalous effects. The table below displays the object which was exposed to the effects of SCP-XXXX, the consciousness level according to the Hameroff-Penrose scale, the perceived mental reaction of the object by assigned thaumaturgists, any visible effects, and following result and protocol carried out. Foundation researcher Doctor Gerolamo Cardano is in charge of testing.
Note: Further testing is suspended by directive of the Ethics Committee (██/██/████).
| TEST XXXX-1 | |
| Object | Ceramic mug |
| Consciousness level | 1 |
| Reaction | Extreme discomfort, wish to self-terminate |
| Visible effects | None |
| Protocol | CSCN applied to mug, consciousness terminated |
| TEST XXXX-2 | |
| Object | Book (copy of "What Is it Like to Be a Bat?", by Thomas Nagel) |
| Consciousness level | 2 |
| Reaction | Extreme discomfort, wish to self-terminate |
| Visible effects | None |
| Protocol | CSCN applied to book, consciousness terminated |
| TEST XXXX-3 | |
| Object | Ceramic mug (different one from the first test) |
| Consciousness level | 0 / Not present |
| Reaction | None percieved |
| Visible effects | None |
| Protocol | None |
"Something seems to be messing up the testing. I think I might know what." -Dr Cardano
| TEST XXXX-4 | |
| Object | None |
| Consciousness level | 3 |
| Reaction | Extreme discomfort, ponderings about the nature of self, wish to know more. |
| Visible effects | None |
| Protocol | CSCN applied to empty room; room was subsequently emptied of air and left in a vacuum - consciousness terminated. |
"Right, so that's what it is. SCP-XXXX was giving consciousness to the air around it, and for as long as we've kept it in here. It seems that the longer matter is exposed to it, the more powerful its produced consciousness becomes" -Dr Cardano
| TEST XXXX-5 | |
| Object | Seedling of a 'dicot', (Nandina domestica) |
| Consciousness level | 0 / Not present |
| Reaction | None percieved |
| Visible effects | Seedling wilted and died |
| Protocol | Seedling incinerated |
| TEST XXXX-6 | |
| Object | Small laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) |
| Consciousness level | 0 / Not present |
| Reaction | None percieved |
| Visible effects | [DATA EXPUNGED] |
| Protocol | Remains incinerated |
"Hmm, interesting. Seems like it gives life to dead stuff, and kills stuff that's alive (huge oversimplification, I assume, but things seem to be going that way)" -Dr Cardano
| TEST XXXX-7 | |
| Object | D-78368 (Homo Sapiens Sapiens) |
| Consciousness level | [DATA EXPUNGED] |
| Reaction | [DATA EXPUNGED] |
| Visible effects | [DATA EXPUNGED] |
| Protocol | [DATA EXPUNGED] |
"What the hell?" -Dr Cardano
Ethics Committee Report ██/██/████:
After a review of the effects of SCP-XXXX, the Ethics Committee tribunal assigned to this case has determined that testing must cease indefinitely. SCP-XXXX grants consciousness to previously inert matter. For all intents and purposes, it creates life. Since the level of consciousness created varies greatly, with many instances exceeding even higher animal consciousness, we cannot in good measure continue giving and then taking away said consciousness. Given the effects on humans, this decision holds even more weight.
- Anil Kumar Seth, Ethics Committee Regional Director
