60 Minutes Reports on “Booms, Busts and Bubbles”, “Sculpting Evolution” & The Payam Method” on May 24 2026

CBS News magazine “60 Minutes” returns on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with a postseason edition featuring updated reports and one brand-new segment. Airing from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, this week’s broadcast explores the economy, medical science and music education through three very different but compelling stories.

The evening includes a closer look at fears surrounding today’s stock market, an ambitious attempt to stop Lyme disease using genetic engineering, and the debut of “The Payam Method,” a profile of a young piano teacher whose unconventional approach is drawing national attention.

• Booms, Busts and Bubbles: 60 Minutes Reports on Whether Another 1929 Crash Could Be Coming on May 24, 2026
• Sculpting Evolution: 60 Minutes Reports on the Bold Plan to Stop Lyme Disease on May 24, 2026
• The Payam Method: 60 Minutes Reports on the Piano Teacher Changing Music Education on May 24, 2026

Booms, Busts and Bubbles

Financial uncertainty continues to dominate conversations across the country, even as the stock market remains surprisingly strong. In this updated segment, correspondent Lesley Stahl speaks with Andrew Ross Sorkin, one of the nation’s most respected financial journalists, about whether modern investors are ignoring warning signs similar to those that preceded the devastating crash of 1929.

Sorkin’s book, “1929,” revisits one of the most catastrophic financial collapses in American history. Through his discussion with Stahl, viewers are given a chance to compare the speculative atmosphere of the late 1920s with today’s economy, where artificial intelligence investments and geopolitical tensions are fueling both optimism and anxiety.

The segment arrives at a time when many investors are debating whether current market growth is sustainable or whether another major correction could be looming. While technology companies continue to post enormous valuations, critics argue that some sectors may be overheating, especially as AI becomes the center of Wall Street enthusiasm.

Stahl and Sorkin examine how history often repeats itself when confidence overtakes caution. The report also highlights the emotional side of investing and how public perception can influence markets just as much as economic fundamentals.

Sculpting Evolution

One of the evening’s most fascinating reports takes viewers to Nantucket, where researchers are experimenting with a bold and controversial plan to fight Lyme disease. Instead of focusing on eliminating ticks or controlling deer populations, scientists hope to genetically engineer wild mice so they can no longer carry the disease.

CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook travels to the island to meet the researchers behind the project and to learn how the experiment could transform disease prevention in the future. Lyme disease has spread steadily across the United States over the past several decades, affecting hundreds of thousands of people each year and often leaving patients with long-term health complications.

The proposed solution is unlike anything previously attempted in the wild. Scientists believe that by making mice immune to Lyme disease, ticks feeding on those mice would stop transmitting the bacteria responsible for infecting humans. The approach could dramatically reduce the disease’s spread without relying on pesticides or widespread animal population control.

At the same time, the experiment raises difficult ethical and environmental questions. Releasing genetically altered animals into the ecosystem is a concept that sparks concern among some residents and experts. The segment explores both the promise and the potential risks of manipulating evolution in real-world environments.

LaPook’s report gives viewers insight into the cutting-edge science behind the project while also examining the debate surrounding how far humanity should go in altering nature to solve public health problems.

The Payam Method

The night’s new segment introduces viewers to Payam Khastkhodaei, a 32-year-old piano teacher whose unconventional teaching system is rapidly gaining recognition across the country. Correspondent Bill Whitaker profiles the son of Iranian immigrants as he works to reshape the way young musicians learn piano.

Khastkhodaei has developed a teaching method that moves away from rigid scales and traditional sheet music instruction, replacing them with techniques designed to make lessons more engaging and intuitive for students. His approach appears to be working, with students not only enjoying their lessons but also excelling in prestigious competitions nationwide.

Whitaker’s report explores what makes the “Payam Method” stand out in a field often associated with strict discipline and repetitive practice. The segment also reveals how Khastkhodaei’s philosophy has attracted attention from major figures in both technology and music, including a legendary tech innovator and an Oscar-winning composer.

The story highlights how education can evolve when teachers challenge long-standing traditions. Khastkhodaei believes students perform better when they develop a genuine emotional connection to music rather than simply memorizing notes and exercises.

Beyond the competition results, the segment also focuses on the broader impact of his work. Parents and students describe a learning environment that encourages creativity, confidence and passion, qualities that are not always associated with formal music training.

A Wide-Ranging Night of Storytelling

This postseason edition of “60 Minutes” once again demonstrates the program’s ability to move between subjects that shape modern life. From financial uncertainty and medical innovation to artistic creativity and education, the broadcast offers viewers a mix of timely reporting and human-centered storytelling.

With updated investigations and a fresh new profile segment, Sunday night’s episode promises a thought-provoking hour that blends science, economics and culture in the signature “60 Minutes” style.