The aim of this chapter is to contribute to two ongoing debates in the philosophy of science: one regarding scientific understanding and the other concerning the nature of thought experiments. By analyzing two significant instances of thought experimental reasoning in physics, I will sketch a theory designed to explain, first, what scientific understanding entails, and second, how thought experiments manage to produce it. I will then argue that, in terms of their ability to generate understanding, thought experiments have much in common with works of science fiction. Finally, I will propose that utilizing science fiction could serve as a tool for promoting a broader understanding of modern science and combating prevalent anti-scientific sentiments.