Safetypee, quantum mechanics IS consistent with conventional scientific thought and has been for the best part of a century. It is merely distinct from 'classical physics', with which the layman more closely identifies, as it describes (accurately) the macroscopic behaviour of larger scale structures. Whilst both fields are supported by hard, empirical evidence, the 'key' to a full understanding of how to reconcile this has yet to be found (the 'unified field theory'). An awful lot of the technology we use on a daily basis would not be possible without an understanding of the quantum world and its behaviours.