News Life Brittle arms lose muscle In the future, sea creatures may pay to build with calcium carbonate By Susan Milius May 6, 2008 at 6:13 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print Brittle stars may end up with less star power as greenhouse gases change ocean chemistry. SPINDLY STAR One of the long, wavy arms of an Amphiura filiformis brittle star has recently regrown its end, which now looks pale. H. L. Wood As human activity increases concentrations of carbon dioxide in the air, ocean chemistry is changing, says Hannah L.