Don't send the colony ship

Some astronomers claim they have found a habitable planet around another star. Leaving aside the extremely long and tenuous chain of inferences they used to come to this conclusion, let's examine their data for this little interstellar jewel:

Researchers from the Geneva astronomical observatory have discovered a planet which they say is one of the best candidates for the ability to support life.

The planet – known as HD 85512 b - and its star - HD 85512 – are some 36 light years away from our solar system, according to an article published in the specialist magazine "Astronomy & Astrophysics".

It is 3.6 times heavier than Earth and takes just 54 days to orbit its sun.

The article says the planet is at the inside limit of the “habitable zone”, defined as the distance close enough to its star to stop water freezing, and far enough to prevent it evaporating away.

It would need a cloud coverage of 50 per cent to keep it cool enough for water to exist in liquid form.

So... Hot, humid, AND high-gravity? Pass. I live in Houston; I could simulate the experience of living on that planet simply by carrying a refrigerator around on my back every day from May through August.