Boost brain health with 'weird' food, stargaze with your kids, get ready for the cicadas, and take a quiz

Plus, what to look at in the night sky, finding Star Wars in the real world, and learn about the cicadas we're going to see this month. [THE SCIENCE BEHIND ‘STAR WARS’]( [VIEW ONLINE]( [THE SCIENCE BEHIND ‘STAR WARS’]( [National Geographic]( This month, space out family style! Look to the skies with these tips for [amateur stargazing]( get crafty with this simple [DIY telescope]( and visit the real-world locations that inspired the fictional [planets in Star Wars](. Prefer to keep both feet on the ground? Get the buzz on the [billions of cicadas]( emerging this month or test your smarts about a [furry social media star](. [Two people gazing at the night sky]( PHOTOGRAPH BY VCHAL/ SHUTTERSTOCK [ID THE NIGHT SKY]( Need a new idea to keep kids entertained? Try stargazing. Check out kid-friendly tips for finding familiar celestial features like the Big Dipper and the North Star —even with the unaided eye. [START SKY WATCHING]( [Beehive houses on Ireland's Skellig Michael, which housed monks seeking a safe haven to practice their beliefs between the sixth and eighth centuries.]( PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER BARRITT, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO [TOUR THE MOVIES]( Introduce your Star Wars fans to the real-world locations that inspired the films’ fantastical environments. [Discover eight places to visit]( including the beehive houses of Ireland (pictured above). [SEE THE SPOTS]( Check out the [all-new trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte.]( The thrilling, live-action series premieres next month, only on [Disney+](. MORE SPACE FUN [A child looks through a makeshift telescope]( PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW RAKOLA [MAKE A TELESCOPE]( Zoom in for better views of the night sky, birds, and treetops with this DIY telescope children can build themselves. [GET THE INSTRUCTIONS]( [a scene from Star Wars where a Star Destroyer approaches the Death Star]( PHOTOGRAPH BY AF ARCHIVE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO [INSPIRED BY 'STAR WARS']( From Darth Vader's breathing to the dual sunsets of Tatooine, we take a look back at the real studies inspired by the "Star Wars" universe. [LEARN THE SCIENCE]( GOOD READS [Here’s a simple way to boost the nutritional value of the fruits your kids eat]( [Find out the pros and cons of giving children sleep aids like melatonin]( [Kids can learn a lot from cicadas. Inspire them to explore science and nature with these activities](. [Wow children with this discovery of an extinct marine reptile that experts estimate was 80 feet long]( [What color is octopus blood? Take our octopus quiz to find out]( [Put down the screens and pick up one of these family-friendly travel games to play on your next road trip]( [FROM THE CURRENT ISSUE]( [Nat Geo kids magazine July issue cover]( [In our June/July issue]( kids can meet [leopards]( and [tigers]( get save-the-big-cat tips, check out the science behind some [theme park rides]( and laugh at [scientist bloopers](. [Not a subscriber? Subscribe to Nat Geo Kids magazine for just $30 a year (10 issues)](. [A group of capybaras]( PHOTOGRAPH BY LEONARDO FERNANDEZ VILORIA, REUTERS [QUIZ]( Which of these so-ugly-they’re-cute animals are racking up billions of views on TikTok? A. [Nutrias]( B. [Capybaras]( C. [Binturongs]( [CLICK TO FIND OUT]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [READ OUR LATEST STORIES]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [FB]( [IG]( [Clicking on]( the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply. This email was sent to: {EMAIL}. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored. This email contains an advertisement from: National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036 [Stop all types of future commercial email]( National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences. [Manage all email preferences]( with the Walt Disney Family of Companies. © 2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.