AUCT Theory: A Unified Transition Framework for Matter, Energy, Information and Life

The search for life beyond Earth and the unification of physical laws remain two of the most profound challenges in modern science. Current paradigms—General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, and the ΛCDM cosmological model—excel in their respective domains but fail to provide a unified explanation for the emergence of life, the nature of dark matter and dark energy, or the physical meaning of birth and death. This paper proposes AUCT (All-Universal Cycle Theory), a transition-centric ontological framework that hypothesizes interphase regimes—rather than stable states—as the fundamental units of reality. AUCT introduces three interacting phases: Matter (M), Energy (E), and Life/Information (L), which continuously transform through cyclic pathways. Key innovations in this version (v5.0): For the first time, we present an effective Lagrangian for the Transition Quantum τ, from which the equations of motion (including the modified Einstein field equations) are rigorously derived. The interphase tensor ΘV(τ)μν is expressed as an explicit function of τ and its derivatives, eliminating the "black box" ambiguity. We provide an operational measurement protocol for Sτ and τ in laboratory settings (based on transfer entropy in supercritical fluids). Furthermore, we demonstrate that AUCT naturally resolves the Hubble tension (H0 discrepancy) by predicting a dynamic equation of state for dark energy, and we present numerical consistency checks with Planck CMB data. By redefining biosignatures as markers of transition entropy peaks rather than mere chemical disequilibrium, AUCT fundamentally shifts the search strategy for life in the Solar System and beyond.