DURHAM, N.C. -- We humans are fixated on big brains as a proxy for smarts. But headless animals called brittle stars have no brains at all and still manage to learn through experience, new research ...

See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Biologists have discovered that brittle stars—a sea creature with no ...

As mist lingers over a Swedish fjord lined with towering, forested cliffs, a group of scientists collect mud from the bottom of the turquoise-colored waters. They’re after brittle stars—marine animals ...

In a series of experiments, brittle stars learned that "lights out" was a dinner bell call to come for dinner. Credit: Julia Notar In a series of experiments, brittle stars learned that "lights out" ...