Media Convergence Initiative

Sunday night if you opened any form of social media whether it be Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram you were bombarded with posts about the 2015 VMAs (Video Music Awards). The VMAs have not a host in two years, so this year Miley Cyrus decided she would step up and host.

The ex-child star kept changing into more and more outrageous outfits with every commercial break. There was even a Janet Jackson inspired outfit malfunction at the end of the evening. No one is quite sure why Cyrus decided it was acceptable to be behind a curtain naked with cameras and press all over but it caused quite the upset. I thought that there was zero chance that the night could get weirder, until pop sensation Justin Bieber started crying for no apparent reason after his performance ended.

One performance that had everyone talking was The Weeknd. Fire lit up the stage while he gave a soulful performance that Kanye West seemed to love. The camera kept panning from the stage and then back Kanye West as he wildly danced throughout the entire song.

Speaking of Kanye West, he won the Video Vanguard Award which Taylor Swift (West’s ex nemesis) graciously presented. Yeezus ended the award show with a very lengthly speech in which he announced he would be running for the Presidential Election in 2020. Not entirely sure if Kim Kardashian being in the White House is a smart idea.

So many other unusual things happened but these were just some that I felt were important to share. I’m going to call this a wrap and announce that this is probably the last time I watch MTV.

Whenever a person hears the word cancer, they usually assume that death is imminent. They know that they will have to endure many chemotherapy treatments, and those often have severe side effects that damage certain parts of the body. However, the University of Buffalo may have found a way to eliminate the cancer, without any damage to the body and other vital organs.

Jonathan Lovell, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and his team have developed their own concepts which they call nanoballoons. 1000 times smaller than a human hair, these balloons are comprised of chlorophyll and phospholipid, which is a fat similar to vegetable oil. Due to this combination, these balloons are capable of completely absorbing and capturing the anti-cancer drugs, and they also shield the drugs from other bodily systems. Once the drugs are trapped inside of the balloons, the drugs are then injected directly into the bloodstream and diffuse throughout the body. Once at their destination, the researchers “pop” the balloons with a red laser, which then releases the drugs. The balloons then close once the laser is not pointed on the balloons, allowing for the drugs to be released during the patient’s treatment.

To test this method, the team used mice that had tumors growing on the surface of their skin. Using the balloons and the laser, the mice were entirely cured of their tumors after only a few treatments. Also, since the drugs did not reach the rest of their system, the researchers were able to use only minimal amounts of drugs to cure the mice.

Following the experiment, Professor Lovell believes that this drug delivery technique could have a significant effect on the future of treating cancer patients. He comments that “I think the most immediate impact would be affecting people who are suffering from conditions where a tumor cannot be removed, but that tumor is causing extreme quality of life issues, such as bowel blockages and things like pancreas malfunction,” Lovell said. “…And eventually, if there are other tumors that are locally advanced, but haven’t spread to distant places, this may be a good treatment to treat a big tumor before it spreads.”

Only time will tell if this method becomes an effective way to treat cancer, and help patients live normal and happier lives.