An orbital shaker is a laboratory device used to agitate or mix substances placed in containers such as flasks, bottles, or petri dishes. It consists of a flat platform that oscillates in a circular motion, causing the containers on it to move in a smooth, orbital path. This motion facilitates mixing, aeration, and incubation of cultures or chemical reactions. Orbital shakers are commonly used in various fields of science, including biology, chemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology, for tasks such as cell culture, bacterial growth, solubility studies, and protein expression.