We may have dramatically under-estimated the number of habitable planets in the universe, because we haven't considered the role played by ocean circulation, according to new research.
Until recently, computer simulations of habitable climates on distant Earth-like planets focused on their atmospheres, and any consideration of their oceans assumed they were similar to ours.
But scientists have now taken another look at these alien atmospheres to include the effects of oceans - and they have discovered they can boost the likelihood of them being able to support life.
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