For more than 150 years, Kendall Square has been home to problem-solving innovators. Here are just twenty-four of the many inventions, firsts, and events that have shaped the world we live in today. All born right here in Kendall Square.
1834
First Center Aisle Train Cars
1846
Sewing Machine
1847
Polaroid Land Instant Camera
1847
Automated Candy Manufacturing
1869
Stillson Adjustable "Monkey" Wrench
1870
Flexible Fire Hoses
1876
First long distance phone call
1916
MIT moves to Kendall Square
1930s-40s
Radar + Microwave Technology advanced by MIT’s “Rad Lab”
1955
Synthetic penicillin
1963
Yellow Highlighter
1973
MIT Instrumentation Lab becomes Draper
1976
Recombinant DNA Regulations issued by Cambridge pave the way for life sciences
1982
Biogen opens on Binney Street
1983
Lotus123 Spreadsheets
1999
Akamai speeds the internet with distributed servers
2000
Zipcar launches first car-sharing program
2003
Whitehead + Broad Institutes collaborate on Human Genome Project here
2008
Google develops Android operating system
2012
LabCentral founds nonprofit life sciences launch pad
2013
MIT develops electric-assist rear wheel to convert traditional bike into ebike
2016
MIT and The Engine open tough tech incubator, launch pad, accelerator
2020
Sublime Systems, energy-saving, carbon-avoiding cement developer, founded
2026
Today
Every day people here are innovating and tackling challenges to human health and the health of the planet with advancements in science and technology across fields as diverse as AI, life sciences, quantum, sustainability and so much more
