The science fiction movie Prometheus has many flaws, but also some highlights. The best part is when the film's hero jumps into an automated surgical pod that removes an invasive alien from her abdomen. It's a jarring scene, but also showcases a glimpse of future possibilities.

The world is developing a case of robot fever. After many decades of dreaming about robots, we can create humanoid machines with articulate movements and autonomous awareness. But while there’s a lot of excitement about robots making coffee or stacking boxes, I think autonomous surgical robots are a much bigger deal.