According to chemist Joanna Aizenberg, the brittle star's dual-purpose shell "demonstrates an important principle: in biology, materials are often optimized for multiple functions."
Hi ku ya hi mutivi wa tikhemikhali Joanna Aizenberg, tilense ta brittle star leti kotaka ku endla mintirho yimbirhi, "ti kombisa mhaka yin'wana ya nkoka: eka ntivo-vutomi, swilo hakanyingi swi endliwe hi xikongomelo xo endla mintirho yo tala."