The search for an explanation assumes there is some identifiable mystery that needs to be explained. If there is consciousness, there is consciousness, if not there isn't. So say consciousness needs an explanation assume there is consciousness. What does not exist does not need to be explained.
If consciousness exists, what's the problem. Well there isn't one until someone makes an assumption about it, like, there is only the physical and consciousness cannot be physical, so how is there consciousness. But that assumption is totally unwarranted. There is consciousness (else there's no problem). It's a fact of existence, just like all physical things and properties. Obviously there exists a property of existence that is not physical, perfectly natural ontological property, just like the physical ones, but in addition to the physical properties.
Those who insist that the only properties there can be are the physical ones are just voicing an irrational prejudice for the world to be the way they would like it to be, but reality is what it is and refuses to conform to anyone's pet views of it.
Either there is life, consciousness, and human minds which are real natural attributes of physical entities (organisms) or there aren't. To say there aren't is a denial of obvious evidence. It is not science, and it is not reason. It is superstition as mystical as any religion.