Light as the Architect of Reality: Information Theory of Coherence in Discrete Geometric Physics

Modern physics describes light as an electromagnetic field or a stream of photons, but leaves open questions about its deep nature: why is the photon massless? Why is the speed of light exactly c? Why is there no dispersion in vacuum? The Standard Model postulates these properties but does not explain them. Moreover, it does not answer why the Universe is structured at all — why there are stars, galaxies, life, and consciousness. In Discrete Geometric Physics (DGP), space is a 26‑vertex cubic lattice with the topological invariant Σw = 14. All fields arise from displacements on lattice edges. In this theory, light turns out to be a massless mode of spiral contours — topological structures that generate SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) gauge fields. All properties of light are derived from geometry. This work goes further: light is shown to be the primary act of structuring of the lattice. Darkness is potentiality — the zero configuration. The first bounce (velocity inversion) generates coherent radiation — the first light, which carries information, synchronises hierarchy levels, and creates conditions for stars, planets, life, and consciousness. We build an information theory of coherence: light carries up to 31 bits per photon; noise (Planckian jitter) limits channel capacity, but the topological invariant Σw=14 protects information; the hierarchy of levels N forms a spectral map of communication; consciousness is interpreted as global coherence at N=105, and thought as a soliton modulating light. All results are obtained from geometric invariants (Σw=14, θ=arcsin(1/√3), φ=(1+√5)/2) and from numerical solution of minimisation equations on the lattice. No fitting parameters are introduced. The theory provides experimental predictions including discrete interference patterns, superluminal phase velocity, high informational capacity, gravitational echoes, and the RESTORE protocol for information recording.