Falling stars, commonly known as meteors, are streaks of light that occur when small particles from space enter the Earth's atmosphere. These particles, often the size of a grain of sand, burn up due to friction with the air, creating a bright flash that we see as a falling star. Most meteors disintegrate before reaching the ground, but if they do survive the journey and land on Earth, they are called meteorites. The study of meteors and meteorites helps scientists learn more about the solar system and the materials that make up celestial bodies like comets and asteroids.