While we even don’t have our hands on the actual 8.0 release of VB.NET (or C#) we’re already teased with features that are introduced in version 9.0. This overview mainly focuses on the use of LINQ (Language INtegrated Query) in VB.NET, but also addresses the way in which support for these new language patterns are implemented by means of extension methods 
and closures. Unfortunately, “…Because extension methods are intended mostly for library designers, Visual Basic does not offer direct language syntax support for declaring them…”.
For a video explanation of LINQ, check this page at Channel9.