The study of quantum gravity is trying to explain and model why matter is curving space time if you like I will provide a paper that shows this model.
My point is a theory is viable without number 2 explained. You do need a mechanism powerful enough to explain what you are observing. A mind solves the information and other arrangement observations we see in biology. The properties of matter at this point do not.
We do however have a model of how matter curves space time which is general relativity. This model contains (matter) and its measured effect (curvature) on space-time.