Question: Can you youse the heat from the star to heat up peoples homes including yours?

Tom Nicholas answered on 22 Jun 2017:

That is the plan, yes. The min-star makes heat in the form of fast-moving neutrons which fly outwards in all directions. These neutrons hit atoms in a surrounding “blanket”, and heat some liquid in the blanket. We then pump the liquid out of the blanket and use it to heat some water, turning the water into steam. The steam is then used to turn a turbine (kind of like blowing on a fan to turn it), which then makes electricity!

This electricity is sent from the power station to your homes along huge wires, and you can use it to heat your home, light up your lights, cook your food, anything.