Chondrules are small, round particles found in some meteorites, particularly in a type called chondrites. They typically range in size from 0.1 to 1 millimeter in diameter and are composed mainly of silicate minerals. Chondrules formed in the early solar system, around 4.5 billion years ago, through rapid heating and cooling processes, possibly from molten droplets in space. These structures are significant because they provide insights into the conditions and processes that existed during the formation of the solar system. Studying chondrules helps scientists understand the composition of the early solar nebula and the formation of planetary bodies, including Earth.