History
Originally, Cerebro was a device similar to a computer that was built into a desk in Xavier's office. This early version of Cerebro operated on punched cards and did not require a user to interface with it. Later, the device was upgraded to the larger and more familiar telepathy-based technology with its interface helmet.
When Bastion steals Cerebro from the X-Mansion, Cerebro is hybridized with Bastion's programming via nanotechnology. The resulting entity, a self-aware form of Cerebro, creates two minions, Cerebrites Alpha and Beta, through which it can act without exposing itself. It also uses records of the powers of the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants to create its own team of imposter X-Men, whose members possess the combined powers of specific members of each of the two teams. Cerebro intends to put human beings in stasis so that mutants can inherit Earth; to this end, it hunts down a group of synthetic children called the Mannites who possess vast psychic powers. Cerebro is destroyed by the X-Men with the help of Professor X and the Mannite named Nina.
In later stories, Cerebro is replaced by Cerebra (referred to as Cerebro's older sister), a machine the size of a small room held in the basement of Xavier's School For Higher Learning. Cerebra is later transferred into the body of a Sentinel and given the capability of human emotion. Cerebra accompanies the X-Men on many of their missions to help find mutants and bring them to X-Haven, where they will be safe from the toxic Terrigen Mist. Along with being able to detect mutants. Cerebra can fly and teleport, serving as a bridge between Earth and the X-Men's base in Limbo.[4]
Cerebra is destroyed during a battle between the X-Men and Inhumans over the remaining Terrigen Mist cloud.[5] After discovering her body, the X-Men determine that Cerebra's body is beyond repair and upload her into a new body.[6]
At the start of the Krakoan Age, it is revealed that Forge created a version of Cerebro that not only was capable of merely detecting mutant minds but also creating a copy of each mutants' mind. This version of Cerebro is portable and can be worn as a helmet.[7] Xavier has five working Cerebro Cradles: one main unit, three backup units, and one additional backup unit.
