[carapace]

Well, machine is a name for a stance of analysis, there are no machines in the real world (which is not to say that there no are mechanical linkages) only in our minds.

FWIW, consciousness has no properties and so cannot be studied scientifically.

However, consciousness can be explored experientially, i.e. two conscious beings can merge and experience self as one being. (See Charles Tart's experiment with mutual hypnosis.)