Happy birthday, U.S.A.! July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To celebrate, we're revealing the secret history behind the Star-Spangled Banner, aka the flag that inspired our country's national anthem. Here's a peek: During the 1800s, one of the flag’s 15 stars was cut out and possibly given away. The star’s location remains a mystery to this day!
Next, grab your shades to read 10 Cool Things About Summer, including this fact: Summers on Uranus are 21 Earth years long.
Then, dive beneath the waves to discover some famous shipwrecks. From the world's oldest intact wreck to Blackbeard's pirate ship to the Titanic, discover how these unlucky vessels met their fate.
Other stories in this month's issue:
- Strange Places: Scuba down into the Great Blue Hole, an underwater cave off the coast of Central America.
- Creature Feature: Meet the incredible—and adorable!—peacock spider.
- The Big Picture: See how a Nat Geo photographer got a cool underwater photo of a group of famous synchronized swimmers.
- Critter Chat: If animals could chat with each other, what would they say? Check out an Andean bear’s day as it talks to other animals in its habitat.
- Whatcha Think?: Check out how Nat Geo Kids readers responded to a poll, then vote in the next one!