[ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
>>> DO YOU THINK THAT WE WILL
HAVE A CRASH?
>> WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD TIME
TO CHECK IN WITH ANDREW ROSS
SORKIN, ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S
MOST INFLUENTIAL FINANCIAL
REPORTERS.
HE’S WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT THE
MARKET CRASH A CENTURYAGO.
>> ARE YOU SCARED?
>> I’M ANXIOUS THAT WE ARE AT
PRICES THAT MAY NOT FEEL
SUSTAINABLE.
WE ARE EITHER LIVING THROUGH
SOME KIND OF REMARKABLE BOOM.
>> OR WE’RE RELIVING?>> OR WE’RE RELIVING? >> 1929.
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
>>> THE NATURAL DISASTER IN OUR
AREA IS NOT HURRICANES OR
TORNADOES OR EARTHQUAKES.
IT IS LYME DISEASE.
>> GENETIC ENGINEERS BELIEVE
THEY’VE FOUND A WAY TO SLOW THE
SPREAD OF THE DEBILITATING
DISEASE CARRIED BY TICKS.
>> IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THIS.
>> TONIGHT, A LOOK AT SOMETHING
THAT’S NEVER BEEN ATTEMPTED,
GENETICALLY ENGINEERING WILD
MICE TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM
GETTING SICK.
>> DO YOU WORRY ABOUT FOOLING
AROUND WITH MOTHER NATURE?
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
♪
>>> IT’S A FAIRLY SAFE BET THAT
MOST KIDS TAKING PIANO LESSONS
DON’T LIKE THEM.
NOW ALONG COMES A PIANO TEACHER
NAMED PAYAM KHASTKHODAEI.
>> IF YOU LEARN ONE, THREE,
FIVE --
>> HE’S COME UP WITH A NEW
METHOD OF TEACHING THAT HAS
STUDENTS LOVING THEIR PIANO
LESSONS.
>> PIANO IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
FUN.
IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE STRICT.
IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE STRESSFUL
AND WE’RE, LIKE, WHY?
♪
OUR STUDENTS DON’T JUST LEARN
PEA
PIANO.
THEY LOVE PIANO.
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
>>> I’M LESLEY STAHL.
>> I’M BILL WHITAKER.
>> I’M ANDERSON COOPER.
>> I’M SHARYN ALFONSI.
>> I’M JON WERTHEIM.
>> I’M CECILIA VEGA.
>> I’M SCOTT PELLEY.
THOSE STORIES AND IN OUR LAST
MINUTE, ACTRESS SALLY FIELD WITH
A CHILDHOOD LESSON ABOUT
AMERICA.
TONIGHT ON "60 MINUTES."
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
>>> THE STOCK MARKET HAS BEEN
STEADY RISING FOR MANY MONTHS
NOW DESPITE OCCASIONAL
VOLATILITY AROUND ISSUES LIKE
TARIFFS AND WAR.
THESE THINGS GOT US THINKING
ABOUT BOOMS, BUSTS, AND BUBBLES.
SO WE DECIDED TO TALK TO THE
COUNTRY’S TOP FINANCIAL
REPORTER, ANDREW ROSS SORKIN.
AS WE FIRST REPORTED IN OCTOBER,
SORKIN HAD JUST WRITTEN A BOOK
CALLED "1929" ABOUT THE MARKET
CRASH A CENTURY AGO.
WE WONDERED IF HE RAN OUT OF
NEWS TO COVER OR WAS HE ALERTING
US THAT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE
MARKETS RIGHT NOW IS A REPLAY OF
WHAT LED TO THE MOST DEVASTATING
FINANCIAL COLLAPSE IN OUR
HISTORY?
>> TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1929.
>> Reporter: IMAGINE THE NEW
YORK STOCK EXCHANGE BACK THEN.
THE CRUSH OF FRIGHTENED TRADERS
DUMPING STOCKS, INVESTORS LOSING
THEIR SHIRTS, BUSINESSES, THEIR
HOMES, SWEEPING AWAY THE ROARING
’20s.
WALKING THAT SAME BUT
TRANSFORMED FLOOR TODAY --
>> EVERYTHING’S DIGITAL.
>> WELL, YEAH.
OKAY.
>> Reporter: ANDREW ROSS SORKIN
SAYS WE’RE IN OUR OWN ROARING
’20s, THE 2020s WITH STOCKS
CLIMBING FOR MONTHS JUST LIKE
THEN.
>> THE CRAZY PART ABOUT THIS IS
FROM 1928 TO SEPTEMBER OF 1929,
THE STOCK MARKET WAS UP 90%.
>> WHEN YOU STAY THE STOCK
MARKET WAS WAY UP --
>> RIGHT.
>> -- IMMEDIATELY I THINK OF
NOW.
ARE YOU SCARED?
>> I’M ANXIOUS.
I’M ANXIOUS THAT WE ARE AT
PRICES THAT MAY NOT FEEL
SUSTAINABLE, AND WHAT I DON’T
KNOW IS WE ARE EITHER LIVING
THROUGH SOME KIND OF REMARKABLE
BOOM AND PART OF THAT’S
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY AND ALL OF THAT, OR
EVERYTHING’S OVERPRICED.
>> OR WE’RE RELIVING --
>> 1929.
THERE WAS SO MUCH ANXIETY.
>> Reporter: SORKIN HAS COVERED
THE MARKETS FOR TWO DECADES.
HE JOINED "THE NEW YORK TIMES"
AFTER COLLEGE, SOON FOUNDING THE
DEALBOOK NEWSLETTER "COVERING
FINANCE."
HE ALSO CO-HOSTS QUAWK BOX" ON
CNBC.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Reporter: AND RUNS THE
DEALBOOK SUMMIT WHERE HE TALKS
WITH THE HIGH AND MIGHTY.
HE CO-CREATED A TV SHOW, WROTE A
BEST-SELLER ABOUT THE 2008
CRASH, AND NOW A BOOK ABOUT
1929.
WE’RE ALWAYS BEING UNDONE BY
BUBBLES.
THERE WAS THE INTERNET BUBBLE IN
2000, THE HOUSING IN 2008.
ARE WE IN ANOTHER BUBBLE, AN AI
BUBBLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> I THINK IT’S HARD TO SAY
WE’RE NOT IN A BUBBLE OF SOME
SORT.
THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS, WHEN IS
THE BUBBLE GOING TO POP?
>> ONE SYMPTOM OF A BUBBLE IS
WHEN THE MARKET GOES UP AND UP,
BUT THE UNDERLYING ECONOMY, THE BUT THE UNDERLYING ECONOMY, THE REAL ECONOMY GOES SOFT.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THAT APPEARS TO BE >> AND THAT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
>> I WOULD ARGUE TO YOU THAT THE
ECONOMY’S BEING PROPPED UP
ALMOST ARTIFICIALLY BY THE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BOOM.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING
INVESTED TODAY IN ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
THIS IS EITHER A GOLD RUSH OR A
SUGAR RUSH, AND WE PROBABLY
WON’T KNOW FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS
WHICH ONE IT IS.
>> 4 MILLION SHARES A DAY.
>> Reporter: 1929 WAS A SUGAR
RUSH CAUSED BY SPECULATION AND RUSH CAUSED BY SPECULATION AND DEBT.
PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T REALLY HAVE
MUCH MONEY WERE LURED BY WALL
STREET BANKERS TO INVEST, USING
A NEWFANGLED CONCEPT TO TAKE ON
DEBT CALLED CREDIT.
YOU ONLY HAD TO PUT DOWN 10% OF
THE STOCK PRICE, BORROWING THE
REST FROM YOUR BROKER.
>> PRIOR TO 1919, MOST PEOPLE
DID NOT TAKE ON CREDIT OR DEBT
AT ALL.
IT WAS A SIN.
IT WAS A MORAL SIN TO USE CREDIT
TO BUY ANYTHING.
>> OH YEAH.
OH.
>> AND IT WAS REALLY GENERAL
MOTORS THAT BASICALLY CAME UP
WITH THE IDEA THAT WE’RE GOING
TO LEND YOU MONEY SO YOU CAN
AFFORD TO BUY OUR CARS.
>> BRILLIANT.
>> AND HEN THE BANKERS REALIZED
WHAT’S HAPPENING AND THEY
REALIZED THAT THEY CAN LEND OUT
MONEY SO THAT MORE FOLKS CAN BUY
STOCKS.
IT WAS ALL SORT OF WRAPPED IN
THE FLAG OF DEMOCRATIZING
ACCESS, AND IN GOOD TIMES WHEN
THE STOCK IS GOING UP, IT’S LIKE
FREE MONEY.
IN BAD TIMES, YOU’RE ON THE HOOK
AND YOU’RE ON THE HOOK IN A
VERIED VERY
BAD WAY.
>> Reporter: SINCE THEN, LAWS,
REGULATIONS, AND AGENCIES HAVE
BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT
INVESTORS, ESPECIALLY THE LESS
AFFLUENT FROM BEING EXPLOITED.
WE PUT UP BARRIERS AFTER 1929.
>> YES.
>> PROTECTIONS.
>> YES.
>> SO THOSE ARE COMING DOWN,
THEY’RE TUMBLING DOWN ONE
AFTER -- THE SEC RULES AREN’T AS
STRINGENT ANYMORE.
>> YES.
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU
PRACTICALLY DOESN’T EXIST
ANYMORE.
>> RIGHT.
CORRECT.
>> THAT’S WHAT CONCERNS ME.
IT’S NOT THAT WE’RE DOING OFF A
CLIFF TOMORROW.
IT’S THAT THERE’S SPECULATION IN
THE MARKET TODAY.
THERE’S AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF
DEBT IN THE MARKET TODAY, AND
ALL OF THAT’S HAPPENING AGAINST
THE BACKDROP OF THE GUARDRAILS
COMING OFF.
>> Reporter: INCLUDING
GUARDRAILS THAT ALLOW ONLY THE
WEALTHY TO INVEST DIRECTLY IN
PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT HAVE
FEWER REGULATIONS LIKE AI
STARTUPS BEFORE THEY GO PUBLIC.
>> SO OVER THE LAST 20 OR 30
YEARS, FOLKS WHO HAD ACCESS TO,
WHO COULD INVEST IN PRIVATE
EQUITY AND VENTURE CAPITAL,
CLEARLY OUTPERFORMED FOLKS WHO
DIDN’T.
MONEY, BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER
THAT THESE KIND OF ASSETS ARE
GAMBLES.
>> PUBLIC COMPANIES, AFTER THE
SEC WAS CREATED, WERE REQUIRED
TO HAVE ALL SORTS OF DISCLOSURE
RULES SO THAT THE PUBLIC COULD
UNDERSTAND WHAT’S GOING ON
INSIDE THEM.
PRIVATE COMPANIES DON’T HAVE
THAT, BUT HISTORICALLY, THE
AVERAGE ORDINARY AMERICAN WASN’T
REALLY ALLOWED TO INVEST IN THE
PRIVATE COMPANIES, BUT IN THIS
FLAG OF DEMOCRATIZING FINANCE,
THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT
ACCESS TO THAT.
ISN’T THIS SOMETHING?
>> THIS IS SPECTACULAR.
>> Reporter: SORKIN TOOK US TO
THE 5th AVENUE MANSION OF ONE OF
THE BIG BANKERS BACK THEN WHO
PUSHED DEMOCRATIZATION.
IF THIS IDEA OF BRINGING THE
REGULAR GUY INTO BUYING STOCK --
>> RIGHT.
>> IF THAT WAS A BIG PROBLEM
BACK IN 1929, WHY ARE WE GOING
THERE AGAIN?
DOESN’T IT DEFY SOME KIND OF
LOGIC?
>> THERE IS A VIEW THAT IT’S
HAD ACCESS TO THESE INVESTMENTS,
FCEBOOK BEFORE IT EVER WENT
PUBLIC, UBER BEFORE IT WENT
PUBLIC.
SO THERE IS THIS IDEA THAT IT’S
UNFAIR ACTUALLY TO THE ORDINARY
INVESTOR BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T
ALLOWED THEM TO GET ACCESS TO
SOME OF THESE INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITIES EARLY, AND THERE
IS A REAL PUSH, PARTIALLY BY THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, PARTIALLY
BY THE INDUSTRY ITSELF WHICH
WANTS TO --
>> GET MORE MONEY.
>> -- GET MORE MONEY IN, TO OPEN
UP THE MARKET TO MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE.
>> SO WE HAVE THESE GUARDRAILS
FOR A REASON.
I MEAN, THEY’RE THERE TO
PROTECT, AND THEY HAVE
PROTECTED --
>> THEY HAVE PROTECTED A LOT OF
PEOPLE, BUT SOME PEOPLE WOULD
SAY THEY’VE PROTECTED PEOPLE
FROM GETTING RICH.
>> MANY PEOPLE DON’T BELIEVE IN
CAPITALISM ANYMORE, AND I THINK
A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE
NOT A PART OF THE GROWTH OF THE
ECONOMY.
>> Reporter: WE WENT TO LARRY
FINK, CEO OF BLACKROCK, THE
WORLD’S BIGGEST MONEY MANAGER,
HANDLING ABOUT $14 TRILLION IN
ASSETS LIKE PENSION FUNDS.
HIS ANNUAL LETTER TO INVESTORS
IS A KIND OF INDUSTRY ROADMAP.
IN 2025, IT SUGGESTED OPENING
OUR RETIREMENT 401(k)s, BASTIONS
OF CAUTION, TO RISKIER PRIVATE
INVESTMENTS IN THE NAME OF --
WAIT FOR IT -- DEMOCRATIZING
ADVERTISING.
>> THERE’S MANY GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVESTING
IN -- IN STARTUP COMPANIES, TO
INVEST IN AI OR DATA CENTERS.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE PROCLUDED TO
MANY OF THOSE PRODUCTS, AND NOW
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS
SAID WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW IN
OUR 401(k) PRODUCTS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THESE
PRIVATE MARKETS.
>> BUT THEY ARE RISKY, AREN’T
THEY?
>> YES, BUT EVERYTHING’S RISKY
OTHER THAN KEEPING YOUR MONEY IN
A BANK ACCOUNT OVERNIGHT.
>> BUT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
401(k)s.
>> YES.
>> INVESTING OUT OF RETIREMENT >> INVESTING OUT OF RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.
>> YES.
>> YOU’RE RISKING THE NEST EGG,
OR A PART OF THE -- A LITTLE
PART OF THE NEST EGG.
>> BUT WHAT THE MARKETS WILL
TEACH YOU OVER THE LAST HUNDRED
YEARS, EVEN AT THE WORST
MOMENTS, IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY
TO PERSEVERE AND YOU HAVE A
LONG-TERM HORIZON, YOU’RE GOING
TO DO FINE, AND A DIVERSIFIED
PORTFOLIO IS ESSENTIAL.
WE’RE NOT SUGGESTING, YOU KNOW,
ONE SHOE FITS ALL.
WE ARE SUGGESTING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT ABILITY
TO INVEST IN THESE PRIVATE
MARKET INVESTMENTS.
>> Reporter: HE ALSO BELIEVES WE
SHOULD BE INVESTING IN CRYPTO.
>> IT WASN’T THAT LONG AGO THAT
THE BIG BANKERS, JAMIE DIMON AND
LARRY FINK, WERE SAYING THAT
CRYPTO WAS STUPID AND A FRAUD.
>> I DID SAY BITCOIN -- BECAUSE
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BITCOIN
THEN, WAS THE DOMAIN OF MONEY
LAUNDERERS AND THIEVES.
THE MARKETS TEACH YOU, YOU HAVE
TO ALWAYS RELOOK AT YOUR
ASSUMPTIONS.
THIS IS A ROLE FOR CRYPTO IN THE
SAME WAY THERE’S A ROLE FOR
GOLD.
THAT IS IT’S AN ALTERNATIVE.
FOR THOSE LOOKING TO DIVERSIFY,
THIS IS NOT A BAD ASSET, BUT I THIS IS NOT A BAD ASSET, BUT I DON’T BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A
LARGE COMPONENT OF YOUR
PORTFOLIO.
>> Reporter: BUT SORKIN SAYS
SOME CRYPTO CAN BE ABUSED IN
WAYS SIMILAR TO 1929.
TAKE MEMECOINS, IESTAKE MEMECOINS, IES THAT CAN BE MANIPULATED BY
SPECULATORS WHO PUMP THEM UP,
THEN LET THEM CRASH.
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
EXAMPLES WHERE IT FELT LIKE
THERE WAS AN INSIDE GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE COLLUDING TO
PUMP UP SOME OF THESE
CRYPTOCURRENCIES AND OTHER
THINGS.
I’LL GIVE YOU A BIZARRE STORY OF
MY OWN.
I WAS ON TELEVISION WITH LARRY
FINK, AND HE MAKES A JOKE, I
THINK, ABOUT HOW THERE SHOULD BE
A SORKINCOIN.
>> I THINK THE SORKINCOIN --
>> SORKINCOIN.
>> WELL, TWO HOURS LATER,
SOMEBODY MAKES A SORKINCOIN, AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SORKINCOIN
IS NOW H MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
AND I’M WATCHING IT.
>> ARE YOU SERIOUS?
>> GOING UP AND UP AND UP AND
UP.
>> Reporter: THE SORKINCOIN
PEAKED AT $170 MILLION WORTH OF
TRADING IN A DAY.
>> AND I THINK TODAY IT’S AT
SOMETHING LIKE $20 OR $21 TODAY.
>> I’M THRILLED O HAVE BILL
GATES WITH US.
>>Reporter: SORKIN IS TRUPSED
BY THE WORLD’S TOP BUSINESS
LEADERS WHO TALK TO HIM OFTEN
EXCLUSIVELY.
>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM BEING
HATED, BY THE WAY.
>> WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THESE
BUSINESS LEADERS SHOULD BE
PLAYING NOW?
>> MY OWN VIEW IS THAT MOST CEOs
IN AMERICA TODAY ARE VERY SCARED
TO SPEAK OUT PUBLICLY ABOUT
ANYTHING.
THEY ARE SO WORRIED THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO BE POTENTIALLY
ATTACKED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ATTACKED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR REGULATED, THEY’RE GOING TO
HAVE A MERGER IN FRONT OF SOME
AGENCY THAT’S NOT GOING TO BE
ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH.
THEY HAVE SO NERVOUS ABOUT
CRITICIZING ANYTHING THAT’S
GOING ON WITH THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
>> THERE ARE SOME ECONOMISTS WHO
SUGGEST THAT BECAUSE MR. TRUMP
TIES HIS SUCCESS TO THE SUCCESS
OF THE MARKET, THAT HE’S NOT
GOING TO LET ANYTHING LIKE WHAT
HAPPENED IN 1929 HAPPEN, AND
THAT WE SHOULD FEEL SECURE
BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> I THINK IT’S HARD TO KNOW HOW
THINGS GET OUT OF CONTROL.
WHEN CONFIDENCE DISAPPEARS, IT
HAPPENS LIKE THIS.
>> SO YOU SPENT NEARLY TEN YEARS
ON THIS BOOK.
THE INEVITABLE QUESTION IS -- DO
YOU THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE A
CRASH OR NOT?
>> THE ANSWER IS WE WILL HAVE A
CRASH.
I JUST CAN’T TELL YOU WHEN, AND
I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW DEEP, BUT I
CAN ASSURE YOU, UNFORTUNATELY --
I WISH I WASN’T SAYING THIS.
WE WILL HAVE A CRASH.
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
>>> DR. JON LAPOOK ON ASSIGN.MEN
FOR "60 MINUTES."
>> BIOLOGIST CHARLES DARWIN
BEGAN CRAFTING HIS THEORY OF
EVOLUTION ON A TRIP TO THE
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS WHERE HE
DISCOVERED ANIMALS DEVELOPED
UNIQUE TRAITS THAT VARIED FROM
ISLAND TO ISLAND.
NEARLY TWO CENTURIES LATER ON A
DIFFERENT ISLAND, SCIENTISTS
AREN’T JUST OBSERVING EVOLUTION.
THEY NOW HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO
SHAPE IT.
WE MET A TEAM OF MODERN-DAY
DARWINS ON NANTUCKET WHERE THEY
TOLD US THEY’RE USING GENETIC
ENGINEERING TO REDUCE LYME
DISEASE, A TICK-BORNE ILLNESS IN
THE UPPER MIDWEST, BUT ALSO
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
THE SCIENTISTS’ TARGET MAY
SURPRISE YOU.
IT’S NOT THE DEER OFTEN
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISEASE OR
EVEN THE TICKS, BUT WILD MICE,
THE MAIN CARRIERS OF LYME.
WITH THE RATE OF EMERGENCY ROOM
VISITS FOR TICK BITES AT A
RECORD HIGH IN SOME REGIONS,
THIS COULD BE THE SUMMER
AMERICANS CONSIDER A NEW
STRATEGY TO FIGHT DISEASE,
SCULPTING EVOLUTION.
30 MILES OFF THE COAST OF CAPE
COD, MASSACHUSETTS IS THE ISLAND
OF NANTUCKET, A 14-MILE-LONG,
3-MILE-WIDE OASIS KNOWN FOR ITS
NATURAL BEAUTY, PRISTINE
SHORELINES, AND PROTECTED
LANDSCAPE, BUT HIDDEN IS A
SCOURGE THAT’S AFFLICTED 13% OF
ITS RESIDENTS.
>> THE NATURAL DISASTER IN OUR
AREA IS NOT URRICANES OR
TORNADOES OR EARTHQUAKES.
IT IS LYME DISEASE.
IT IS THE ONE PLAGUE THAT MIGHT
BE SEVERE ENOUGH THAT
COMMUNITIES MIGHT WANT TO
ENGINEER A WILD ORGANISM IN
ORDER TO GET RID OF IT OR AT
LEAST REDUCE THE LEVEL A LOT.
>> Reporter: DEEP IN THE
ISLAND’S BRUSH IN 2024, WE FOUND
M.I.T. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR,
KEVIN ESVELT, A PIONEER IN
GENETIC ENGINEERING, WAVING A
WHITE FLAG IN SEARCH OF TICKS.
>> SO WE JUST GRAB IT.
>> Reporter: THESE TINY VECTORS
OF LYME DISEASE WERE NOT HARD TO
FIND.
>> YOU JUST POP IT IN.
>> THESE ARE THE BIG ONES
BECAUSE THESE ARE LARGELY
ADULTS.
>> IF THE ADULTS ARE THIS SMALL,
IMAGINE THE TINY, TINY -- WHAT
ARE THEY CALLED?
NYMPHS?
>> NYMPHS, YEAH.
WE OFTEN THINK OF THEM POPPY
SEED-SIZED.
>> Reporter: THIS IS SAM
TELFORD, AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST WHO’S
BEEN STUDYING TICKS ON NANTUCKET
FOR THE LAST 41 YEARS. FOR THE LAST 41 YEARS. >> THERE’S A 50% CHANCE, MAYBE
MORE THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY
CARRYING LYME DISEASE.
>> BUT YOU’RE NOT AFRAID BECAUSE
IT HAS TO BE --
>> IT HAS TO BE ATTACHED.
>> EMBEDDED AND ATTACHED --
>> FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS.
>> TO INFECT YOU.
>> THAT’S CORRECT.
>> THESE GUYS WILL SWELL UP.
>> YEAH.
>> 50 TO 100 TIMES THAT SIZE
WITH BLOOD, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES
THAT BIG.
>> AND THAT’S HOW YOU KNOW WHEN
THEY’RE ENGORGED.
YOU KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
FEEDING ON YOU.
>> IF YOU SEE IT THAT BIG, THEN
YOU’RE IN TROUBLE.
>> Reporter: THE SCIENTISTS
AREN’T HERE JUST TO COLLECT
TICKS.
THEY’RE INTERESTED IN THIS
CRITTER --
>> THIS IS A WILD MOUSE?
>> THIS IS A WILD WHITE-FOOTED
MOUSE.
>> AND YOU’VE TAGGED IT?
>> I’VE TAGGED IT SO WHEN I COME
BACK IN APRIL OR MAY OF NEXT
YEAR, WE GET AN IDEA OF WHAT
OVER-WINTERING SUCCESS IS.
>> Reporter: THEIS TRACKING THE
MOUSE POPULATION ON NANTUCKET AS
PART OF A NOVEL PROJECT.
THE SCIENTISTS WANT TO USE
GENETIC ENGINEERING TO INTERRUPT
THE CYCLE OF INFECTION NECESSARY
FOR LYME DISEASE TO FLOURISH.
WHITE-FOOTED MICE ARE THE MAIN
HOST OF LYME BACTERIA.
WHEN AN UNINFECTED TICK BITES AN
INFECTED MOUSE, THE BACTERIA
TRANSFERRED TO THE TICK.
WHEN THAT INFECTED TICK THEN
BITES AN UNINFECTED MOUSE, THE
CYCLE CONTINUES.
DEER DON’T GET INFECTED, BUT
THEY HELP SPREAD THE DISEASE
BECAUSE TICKS EMBED ON THEM TO
FEED, THEN REPRODUCE WITH A
SINGLE FEMALE TICK LAYING AS
MANY AS 2,000 LEGS.
HERE’S ESVELT AND TELFORD’S
IDEA -- CHANGE THE GENETIC
MAKEUP OF THE MICE SO THEY’RE
IMMUNE TO LYME.
THAT WAY THE TICKS THAT BITE
THEM WON’T GET INFECTED.
>> YOU DON’T HAVE TO KILL THE
MOUSE IN ORDER TO INTERRUPT THE
CYCLE.
>> IT WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE
ECONOMICAL AND STRAIGHT FORWARD
TO JUST GO OUT AND POISON ALL
THE MICE, RIGHT?
GET RID OF THE MICE, BUT THEN
THERE’S A WHOLE FOOD CHAIN THAT
MIGHT DEPEND ON THESE MICE THAT
MIGHT BE IMPACTED.
>> THE DREAM IS THAT WE CAN USE
NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO ENSURE THAT
WILD CREATURES CAN LIVE IN
PEACE, PLAYING THEIR NORMAL,
ECOLOGICAL ROLE, BUT WITHOUT
CAUSING DISEASE THAT MAKE PEOPLE
SUFFER.
>> COME ON IN.
>> Reporter: IF ESVELT’S DREAM
BECOMES A REALITY, 80-YEAR-OLD
DR. TIMOTHY LEPORE MIGHT FINALLY
BE ABLE TO RETIRE.
>> SO HOW DID YOU GET LYME
DISEASE, DO YOU THINK, WINNIE?
>> WELL, A TICK BIT YOU.
>> Reporter: OVER THE PAST 40
YEARS, HE’S BEEN THE ISLAND’S
EMERGENCY ROOM HEAD, SOLE
SURGEON, EVEN ITS MEDICAL
EXAMINER.
TODAY, DR. LEPORE RUNS THE ONLY
PRIVATE PRACTICE ON NANTUCKET
WHERE HE TREATS DOZENS OF
PATIENTS WITH LYME DISEASE EACH
YEAR.
>> FOLLOW MY FINGER.
>> Reporter: AND YES, THAT’S A
GIANT TICK IN HIS WAITING ROOM.
>> BEING IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, IT
IS WHILE NOT WELL PAID --
>> YOU GET PAID IN, LIKE, WHAT?
CHICKENS AND DOUGHNUTS AND --
>> WE PREFER LOBSTERS, ACTUALLY.
>> LOBSTER.
>> LOBSTERS, CLAMS, AND
SCALLOPS.
>> BUT YOU’LL TAKE ANYTHING,
RIGHT?
>> I WILL TAKE ANYTHING.
COME ON DOWN, SHAUNA.
>> Reporter: LYME DISEASE CAN BE
TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS, BUT IF
LEFT UNTREATED, THE INFECTION
CAN SPREAD TO THE HEART, JOINTS,
AND NERVOUS SYSTEM AS IT DID FOR
33-YEAR-OLD SHAUNA ASPLINT.
>> MY BODY HURTS ALL THE TIME.
>> OKAY.
>> I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S FROM >> I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S FROM MY LYME DISEASE OR WHAT.
MY NECK IS STIFF.
AN ANKLES ARE SORE, AND MY
HIPS.
>> Reporter: ASPLINT WAS FIRST
DIAGNOSED WITH LYME WHEN SHE WAS
10 YEARS OLD.
A FEW YEARS LATER, THE LEFT SIDE
OF HER FACE STOPPED MOVING, A
RESIDUAL EFFECT FROM THE DISEASE
STILL NOTICEABLE TODAY.
>> LET’S SEE YOU SMILE.
>> IT’S STILL A LITTLE OFF.
>> YEAH, NO.
>> I RAISE MY EYEBROWS, IT JUST
DOESN’T MOVE.
>> WE SEE PEOPLE WITH FACIAL
PALSIES.
WE SEE LITTLE KIDS WITH SWOLLEN
KNEES.
WE SEE PEOPLE WITH LYME RASHES.
SO IT ALTERS PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOR
AND ACTIVITIES.
>> Reporter: THE PROBLEM ON
NANTUCKET CAN BE TRACED BACK TO
1926 WHEN LOCALS VOTED TO IMPORT
TWO FEMALE DEER TO THE ISLAND TO
GIVE A LONE BUCK COMPANY.
AS THE DEER POPULATIN GREW, SO
DID THE TICKS.
ON POP OF THAT, BY THE 1950s,
HALF THE LAND ON THE ISLAND WAS
PUT INTO CONSERVATION.
THE UNTAMED BRUSH AND WILD
GRASSLANDS CREATE AN IDEAL
ECOSYSTEM FOR LYME’S HOST TO
THRIVE.
>> WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
TICK-BORNE DISEASE BECAUSE WE
ENGINEERED THE ENVIRONMENT TO
MAX
MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF TICKS AND
MAXIMIZE THE UMBER OF MICE THAT
ARE BEST HOSTS TO LYME DISEASE.
IT CAME BACK AND BIT US,
LITERALLY.
>> Reporter: THIS SPARKED
ESVELT’S LIFELONG OBSESSION WITH
EVOLUTION.
HE WAS THE FIRST TO PROPOSE THAT
CRISPR COULD BE USED TO CHANGE A
SPECIES’ GENETICS IN PERPETUITY,
HACKING THE LAWS OF INHERITANCE.
>> IT’S NOT LIKE WE WANT TO
FITNESS IT VINTAGE.
>> Reporter: THIS IDEA LED TO
THE PROJECT THEY CALLED MICE
AGAINST TICKS AT M.I.T.
FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, HE AND
RESEARCHER JOANNA BUCHTHAL HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO STUDY THIS EMBRYO
THAT HAS PROGRESSED INTO TWO
CELLS.
IS IT GOING TO BE IN ONE OF
THOSE CELLS OR BOTH OF THEM?
>> OUR TECHNIQUE INVOLVES >> OUR TECHNIQUE INVOLVES INJECTING BOTH CELLS TO MAXIMIZE
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE GET THE
ANTIBODY GENE IN THEIR DNA.
>> Reporter: BUCHTHAL AND
EMBRYOLOGIST ZACH HILL SHOWED US
HOW THEY GENETICALLY ENGINEER
LAB MICE.
>> HE’S GOING TO INJECT THROUGH
THE PLASMA MEMBRANE AND INTO THE
NUCLEUS FOR BOTH OF THESE CELLS.
>> HOW ARE YOU AT DARTS?
>> NOT VERY GOOD.
I’M BETTER AT THIS.
>> YOU’LL HIT THE CENTER OF
THIS.
>> I’LL HIT THE CENTER OF THIS.
I HAVE IT SET UP ON THE DISH
HERE.
SO I’M TRYING TO FIND THE
NUCLEUS HERE.
>> IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THIS.
>> SO THAT LITTLE BURST THAT YOU
CAN SEE IN THE NUCLEUS IS WHEN
HE’S ACTUALLY INJECTING THE
GENOME ENGINEERING TOOLS INTO
THE NUCLEUS WHERE THE DNA IS.
>> Reporter: THE INJECTION MIX
CONTAINS BOTH THE ANTIBODY GENE
AND CRISPR WHEN ACTS LIKE
MOLECULAR SCISSORS.
AFTER HE FINDS AND CUTS THE
TARGETED DNA, THE CELL INSERTS
THE GENE INTO THE MOUSE’S
GENETIC CODE.
WHEN THIS MOUSE IS BORN, IT WILL
BE IMMUNE TO LYME DISEASE, AND
SO WILL ITS CHILDREN.
>> IF I GET A POLIO VACCINE, MY
KIDS AREN’T GOING TO BE IMMUNE
TO POLIO UNLESS THEY GET THE
VACCINE TOO.
>> THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT.
SO THIS IS A HERITABLE
IMMUNIZATION.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
>> WHAT WE’RE ACTUALLY DOING IS
ENCODING IMMUNITY SO THAT IMMUM
TIN IS PASSED ON GENERATIONALLY,
AND EVERY MOUSE THAT GETS THE
ANTIBODY GENE IS ACTUALLY
IMMUNE.
>> TYPICAL STANDARD EVOLUTION
HAPPENED VERY SLOWLY, OVER
THOUSANDS, MAYBE MILLIONS OF
YEARS.
ARE YOU SPEEDING UP EVOLUTION
HERE?
>> WE ARE ABSOLUTELY SPEEDING UP
EVOLUTION, AND THAT’S PRECISELY
WHY WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
BECAUSE WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT
COULDN’T HAPPEN NATURALLY.
>> Reporter: THE PLAN IS TO
RELEASE THOUSANDS OF ENGINEERED
MICE ON NANTUCKET OVER TIME,
STARTING DURING THE WINTER
MONTHS WHEN THE NATIVE MOUSE
POPULATION IS LOW, BUT FIRST,
ESVELT NEEDS COMMUNITY BUY-IN.
>> All: THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
>> Reporter: HE CHOSE NANTUCKET
NOT ONLY FOR ITS HIGH RATE OF
LYME, BUT ALSO FOR ITS
TIGHT-KNIT, WELL-EDUCATED
COMMUNITY WITH A TRADITION OF
TOWN HALL DEMOCRACY.
>> I AM GOING TO CALL THE
OCTOBER 23rd SELECT BOARD
MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:30 P.M.
>> WE ALSO NEED TO START SMALL.
>> Reporter: WE SAW THIS IN
ACTION IN OCTOBER, 2024 WHEN FOR
THE TENTH TIME, THE SCIENTISTS
PRESENTED THEIR LATEST FINDINGS
TO LOCALS.
>> SO IT APPEARS THAT WE HAVE
INDEED PRODUCED THE FIRST
HERITABLY INDUCED CYCLE.
>> Reporter: THEN A Q&A.
>> WE HAVE A HUGE POPULATION OF
FIELD MICE HERE.
SHALL WE EXPECT A LARGER SHALL WE EXPECT A LARGER POPULATION?
>> HAVING HAD LYME DISEASE
TWICE, I THOUGHT, WHAT A COOL
IDEA, BUT MICE ARE KIND OF THE
FOUNDATION OF THE FOOD CHAIN.
SO TINKERING WITH THE FOOD CHAIN
MAKES ME A LITTLE CAUTIOUS.
>> HOW LONG BEFORE IT’S ACTUALLY
GOING TO TAKE EFFECT AND KEEP ME
FROM GETTING LYME DISEASE?
>> THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION.
>> WHEN YOU’RE IN THESE
MEETINGS, WHAT’S THAT BEEN LIKE?
>> SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY GUNG
HO ABOUT THIS.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE DEEP
RESERVATIONS, BUT WHAT I’VE
FOUND HEARTENING ABOUT THIS IN
NANTUCKET IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT
PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE AGREES THAT
THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD GO ABOUT
DEVELOPING THESE KINDS OF
TECHNOLOGIES, THAT IT SHOULD NOT
JUST BE SCIENTISTS IN THEIR
LABORATORIES, GET A CLEVER IDEA,
AND THEN BOOM IT’S THERE.
>> Reporter: DR. TIMOTHY LEPORE
SAYS HE’S SUPPORTIVE OF THE
PROPOSAL, BUT AS AN AVID
FALCONER, HE WANTS MORE TESTING
TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THERE WON’T
BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO
THE ISLAND’S ECOSYSTEM.
>> COULD A CHANGE IN THE FIELD
MOUSE LEAD TO A CHANGE IN THE
HAWK?
>> THAT’S THE QUESTION.
I DON’T THINK SO, BUT WE --
>> WE DON’T KNOW.
>> I THINK THAT HAS TO BE SHOWN.
>> DO YOU WORRY ABOUT FOOLING
AROUND WITH MOTHER NATURE?
>> ABSOLUTELY, BUT ON THE OTHER
HAND, I’M NOT TERRIBLY FOND OF
MOTHER NATURE IF SHE’S GOING TO
GIVE MY KIDS DISEASE.
ALL OF TECHNOLOGY IS SAYING TO
MOTHER NATURE, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH,
AND WE NEED TO CONSERVE YOU, BUT
WE’RE NOT ALWAYS HAPPY WITH THE
WAY THINGS WORK NATURALLY, AND
SO WE’RE GOING TO CHANGE IT.
>> BUT IN THIS CASE, YOU’RE
CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR
EVERYBODY.
>> THIS IS, I AGREE, DIFFERENT,
BECAUSE IT’S HARD FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO OPT OUT, AND I
THINK THAT MEANS WE NEED TO DO
THE SCIENCE DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE
HAVE A VOICE EARLY ENOUGH TO
ACTUALLY INFLUENCE THE DIRECTION
THAT THE TECHNOLOGY HAS
DEVELOPED.
>> Reporter: IF FEDERAL AND
STATE REGULATORS AGREE, THE TEAM
PLANS TO FIRST RELEASE THE
ENGINEERED MICE IN A SMALL FIELD
TRIAL ON A PRIVATE ISLAND SO
THEY CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS BEFORE ANY
POTENTIAL EXPERIMENTS ON
NANTUCKET.
WHAT IS THE HOME RUN FOR YOU?
>> I THINK IT’S A FIELD TRIAL
THAT WORKS.
IT’S SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS US TO
DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE -- THE
FRACTION OF TICKS THAT ARE FRACTION OF TICKS THAT ARE INFECTED.
IT DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING
OBVIOUSLY GO WRONG WITH THE
ECOSYSTEM, AND THEN THE
COMMUNITY HAS A GOOD DISCUSSION,
AND THEN THEY DECIDE, AND I
THINK THERE IS BENEFITS AS WE
DISCUSSED, EVEN IF THEY SAY NO,
AND THEN WE WALK AWAY.
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
>>> IT’S A FAIRLY SAFE BET THAT
MOST KIDS TAKING PIANO LESSONS
DON’T LIKE THEM.
THAT WAS CERTAINLY MY
EXPERIENCE.
I TOOK PIANO FROM AGE 5 TO 12
BEFORE QUITTING IN FRUSTRATION.
THE SCALES AND SHEET MUSIC AND
STRICT TEACHER JUST GOT THE BEST
OF ME.
NOW ALONG COMES A PIANO TEACHER
NAMED PAYAM KHASTKHODAEI, THE
32-YEAR-OLD SON AFTER AN IRANIAN
IMMIGRANT.
HE SAYS HE’S COME UP WITH A NEW
METHOD OF TEACHING THAT HAS
STUDENTS LOVING THEIR PIANO
LESSONS.
WHAT MAKES THIS NEAR UNKNOWN
WORTH A "60 MINUTES" STORY?
WELL, HIS STUDENTS ARE SWEEPING
COMPETITIONS.
HE’S WON OVER A LEGENDARY TECH
INNOVATOR, AND AN OSCAR-WINNING
COMPOSER.
THEY’LL TELL YOU WHY HE’S JOINED
THIS REVOLUTION, BUT WE THINK
YOU OUGHT TO HEAR FROM PAYAM
FIRST.
>> PEA YAN IANO IS NOT SUPPOSED
FUN.
IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE STRESSFUL.
THE SUPPOSED TO BE STRICT.
IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE THIS INTENSE
INSTRUMENT YOU’RE PLAYING.
WE’RE, LIKE, WHY?
WHY CAN’T IT BE FUN?
♪
WHY CAN’T WE ACTUALLY ENJOY THE
SONGS WE’RE LEARNING?
♪
OUR STUDENTS DON’T JUST LEARN
PIANO.
THEY LOVE PIANO, AND THAT’S ONE
OF THE BIGGEST KEYS TO IT.
CAN YOU PLAY A LITTLE BIT FOR ME
RIGHT THERE?
SAME SPOT.
♪
NOW CAN YOU PLAY A LITTLE GAME?
CAN YOU SHOW US HOW YOU CAN PLAY
WITHOUT LOOKING?
DO YOU WANT TO LOOK UP?
YEAH P LET’S LOOK UP AND PLAY.
♪
>> Reporter: IN NEARLY EVERY
ROOM OF A CONVERTED HOME IN THE
SEATTLE SUBURB OF BOTHELL,
WASHINGTON, PAYAM AND HIS TEAM
OF YOUNG TEACHERS ALL FORMER
STUDENTS OF HIS, ARE GIVING
PIANO LESSONS AND HAVING FUN.
>> THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.
♪
>> Reporter: STUDENTS ARE
CHARGED BETWEEN $75 AND $100 PER
LESSON.
>> START OVER HERE.
>> Reporter: AND RANGE FROM
PRESCHOOL BEGINNERS TO TOOL
TALENTS.
♪
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WOW.
>> AMAZING.
>> WOW.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
PRACTICING THAT?
>> I THINK FOR FOUR-ISH WEEKS
MAYBE?
>> FOUR WEEKS?
>> IN PIANO, WE HAVE THIS THING
CALLED THE DIPLOMA WHICH IS KIND
OF LIKE THE BLACK BELT OF THE
MUSIC WORLD.
TRADITIONALLY ABOUT 1% TO 2% OF
STUDENT REACH THE DIPLOMA LEVEL
AND IT TAKES THEM ABOUT 12
YEARS.
IN OUR SCHOOL, 96% REACHED IT
AND IT TAKES THEM ABOUT FOUR
YEARS.
>> I CAN HEAR THE TRADITIONALIST
SAYING, HOLD ON A MINUTE.
IT CAN’T BE THAT EASY.
IT CAN’T BE THAT FUN.
I MEAN, IN ORDER TO BE A REALLY
GOOD PIANIST --
>> MM-HMM.
>> -- YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE
DISCIPLINE.
>> YES.
>> YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE HARD WORK.
YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE RIGOR.
ARE THEY WRONG?
>> I AGREE AND DISAGREE.
OF COURSE, NOBODY WILL BECOME
PHENOMENAL AT ANYTHING UNLESS
THEY ACTUALLY PUT IN THE TIME
AND ENERGY.
♪
BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY ENJOY WHAT
YOU’RE DOING, YOU DON’T REALIZE
THAT YOU’RE PUTTING IN THE
TIME
FOR THAT.
>> SO YOU LOVE IT FIRST.
>> THEY LOVE IT FIRST.
IF YOU LEARN ONE, THREE, FIVE,
AND IF YOU LEARN THAT’S JUST
THIS -- ♪
>> Reporter: THE PAYAM METHOD
BEGINS NOT WITH SHEET MUSIC, BUT
WITH ABCs AND 123s AND WITH
ACTUALLY WRITING NUMBERS ON
PIANO KEYS.
>> THIS IS A SONG I WOULD TEACH
MY 3-YEAR-OLD STUDENT THAT WOULD
COME INTO CLASS ONE DAY AND WE
UNDERSTAND THIS IS ONE, THIS IS
FIVE.
THEY’RE NOT READING NOTES.
THEY’RE NOT EVEN SOMETIMES
LOOKING AT SHEET MUSIC.
WE’RE PLAYING A GAME, AND IT’S
FUN FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY’LL GO,
ONE, TWO, THREE.
AND THEN I’LL SAY, GOOD JOB.
LET’S GO ONE, ONE, TWO FIVE, AND
THEY’LL THINK AND GO -- ♪
AND WHAT THEY’RE DOING IS
BUILDING THIS COORDINATION.
>> Reporter: AND USING TOOLS
THEY ALREADY KNOW, NUMBERS AND
LETTERS, TO LEARN A NEW
LANGUAGE, THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, I REALLY WANT TO
LEARN CHINESE.
IF SOMEBODY PUT A BOOK IN FRONT
OF ME THAT WAS IN CHINESE, MY
BRAIN WOULD JUST --
>> LOCK UP.
>> EXACTLY.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING,
BUT IF THEY TAUGHT ME USING A
LANGUAGE I KNOW, WHICH IS ABCs
I WOULD BE, LIKE, OH.
I LEARNED IT AND THEN I’ JUST
MAPPING IT OUT.
♪
>> Reporter: AND JUST AS
STUDENTS OF CHINESE EVENTUALLY
LEARN CHINESE CHARACTERS PAYAM’S
STUDENTS DO SHIFT TO SHEET
MUSIC.
♪
AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE 18
LEVELS OF HIS CURRICULUM.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GO FROM
THIS TO THIS?
>> THIS IS OUR LEVEL 2.
THIS IS OUR LEVEL 13.
THIS WOULD TAKE ABOUT A YEAR AND
A HALF TO TWO YEARS FOR
STUDENTS, AND DURING ALL THAT
TIME, YOU’RE LEARNING SONGS THAT
YOU ACTUALLY ENJOY.
>> THE OPERATIVE WORD IN MUSIC
IS AFTER ALL, PLAY.
SO BE PLAYFUL.
♪
>> Reporter: HANS ZIMMER HAS
WRITTEN THE MUSICAL SCORES FOR
MORE THAN 150 FILMS.
HE’S BEEN NOMINATED FOR 12
OSCARS AND WON TWO, INCLUDING
FOR HIS SCORE FOR "THE LION
KING."
BUT BEFORE HE WAS A RENOWNED
COMPOSER AND PERFORMER, HE WAS A
FRUSTRATED MUSIC STUDENT.
YOU HAD AN UNCONVENTIONAL MUSIC
EDUCATION.
>> I HAD AN UNCONVENTIONAL
EDUCATION TO SAY THE LEAST.
EIGHT SCHOOLS ASKED ME TO LEAVE.
I LEFT WITH PLEASURE.
>> IS THAT THE PLAYFULNESS, THE
UNCONVENTIONALITY OF THE
EDUCATION, IS THAT WHAT DREW YOU
TO PAYAM AND HIS METHOD?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT’S EXACTLY
WHAT I WISH I COULD HAVE HAD.
>> Reporter: MOST OF PAYAM’S
STUDENTS DON’T ASPIRE TO BE
CONCERT PIANISTS.
♪
>> Reporter: AND HIS PLAYFUL
APPROACH SEEMS TO HAVE THEM
LOVING THEIR LESSONS, BUT WHAT
REALLY SETS THEM APART IS THAT
HE’S ALSO TEACHING THEM TO
COMPOSE THEIR OWN ORIGINAL SONGS
AT VERY YOUNG AGES.
DELARA IS JUST 12.
♪
>> THIS IS YOUR THIRD
COMPOSITION YOU’VE WRITTEN?
>> YEAH.
>> THIS IS YOUR COMPOSITION?
>> YEAH.
>> OH, THAT’S EXCELLENT.
♪
>> Reporter: PAYAM WROTE THIS,
HIS FIRST ORIGINAL SONG, WHEN HE
WAS 9 YEARS OLD AS A GIFT FOR
HIS NEWBORN SISTER.
♪
AT AGE 11, HE ENTERED A
DIFFERENT ORIGINAL COMPOSITION
INTO AN ARTS COMPETITION
SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL PTA.
>> THE FIRST COMPETITION COMP
EDITION I ENTERED WAS THE PTA
EDITION, AND I WON.
>> AND YOU HAVE STUDENTS NOW?
>> YES.
>> WHO PERFORM AND WRITE FOR
THIS VERY SAME COMPETITION?
>> EXACTLY.
>> HOW HAVE THEY DONE?
>> FE NO, PHENOMENAL.
THE BEST I EVER DID WAS WIN
SECOND PLACE AT STATE, AND I
THOUGHT THAT WAS THE BIGGEST
ACHIEVEMENT IN THE WORLD.
IN 2024, WE SUBMITTED 41 OF OUR
STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN THE
REFLECTIONS COMPETITION.
THERE WAS 300,000 NATIONWIDE.
SO WE MADE UP A VERY, VERY SMALL
PORTION OF THEM, UT WE WON 13 PORTION OF THEM, UT WE WON 13 OUT OF 15 DISTRICT WINNERS.
WE WON 5 OUT OF 5 WASHINGTON
STATE FIRST PLACE WINNERS, AND
THEN THOSE FIVE STUDENTS WENT ON
TO COMPETE NATIONALLY, AND FOUR
OF THEM WON 4 OF THE 14 NATIONAL
MEDALS THAT WERE AWARDED.
>> WOW.
♪
>> PLAY IT FROM --
♪
>> Reporter: EVEN WHEN THEY’RE
LEARNING OTHER PEOPLE’S
COMPOSITIONS, PAYAM’S STUDENTS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY AROUND
WITH TELL TOE AND STYLE -- TEMPO
STYLE AND MOOD.
>> THAT IS NOT HOW I LEARNED
PIANO AT ALL.
>> THAT IS NOT HOW I LEARNED IT
EITHER.
>> THERE’S A CERTAIN WAY TO DO
IT AND YOU BETTER DO IT THAT
WAY.
>> EXACTLY.
THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO
CHANGE ABOUT THE MUSICAL WORLD.
>> ON DAY ONE, I SAID I WANT TO
HELP SCALE THIS THING.
>> Reporter: HADI PARTOVI MET
PAYAM WHEN HIS 12-YEAR-OLD SON,
DARIUS, ENROLLED IN PEA YAN KNOW
LESSONS.
HE’S THE CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF
CODE.ORG, A NONPROFIT THAT HAS A
FREE ONLINE PLATFORM THAT
MILLIONS OF TEACHERS HAVE USED
TO TEACH THE BASICS OF COMPUTER
CODING TO HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF KIDS.
>> THERE’S A LOT OF PARALLELS
BETWEEN PAYAM MUSIC AND
CODE.ORG.
ONE IS WE DON’T TEACH CODING
WITH ONES AND ZEROS OR, YOU
KNOW, ANGLE BRACKETS AND KNOW, ANGLE BRACKETS AND SEMICOLONS.
WE TEACH IT WITH BLOCKS AND
DRAGGING AND DROPPING TO MAKE IT
EASIER.
SIMILARLY, PAYAM MUSIC TEACHES
MUSIC STARTING WITH ABCs AND
123s BEFORE YOU LEARN THE CODE
OF HOW MUSIC IS WRITTEN.
♪
>> Reporter: SO HADI PARTOVI IS
NOW CEO OF PAYAM MUSIC, WITH THE
GOAL OF TAKING THIS TINY SCHOOL
NOW WITH JUST A FEW HUNDRED
STUDENTS, NATIONAL.
>> SO THE PLAN IS TO OPEN PAYAM
SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
>> THAT’S CORRECT.
♪
>> Reporter: PARTOVI HAS RAISED
MONEY TO FUND THE EXPANSION FROM
AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF INVESTORS
INCLUDING FILM COMPOSER HANS
ZIMMER.
>> WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO NOT
JUST RECOGNIZE PAYAM’S METHOD
AND WHAT HE’S DOING, BUT TO
ACTUALLY INVEST IN IT?
>> TO THIS DAY, I JUST REMEMBER
THESE PIANO LESSONS AS BEING
HORRIBLE, AND HE’S PICKING OUT A
WAY OF GIVING CHILDREN THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ABSOLUTE
HAPPINESS.
THEY LOVE MUSIC AND LOVE
THEMSELVES.
♪
>> Reporter: ZIMMER VISITED
PAYAM’S FIRST NEW LOCATIO IN
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, AND
LISTENED TO STAR PUPILS PLAY
THEIR COMPOSITIONS, INCLUDING
HADI PARTOVI’S SON, DARIUS, NOW
19.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THE
PIECE, SLIGHTLY SLOWER.
JUST BREATHE WITH IT MORE.
♪
>> WITH MY SON, I DIDN’T EVEN
REALIZE THAT HE WAS WRITING
MUSIC UNTIL ONE DAY I WAS, LIKE,
OH, WHOSE PIECE ARE YOU PLAYING?
AND HE’S, LIKE, I’M JUST MAKING
IT UP AS I GO, AND I WAS, LIKE,
WHAT?
>> DO YOU HAVE TO, OR HOW DO YOU
CONVINCE THE MUSIC
ESTABLISHMENT, MUSIC SCHOOL,
INSTRUCTORS, THAT WHAT YOU’VE
GOT HERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL?
>> OVER TIME WE’LL BE ABLE TO
CONVINCE THE MUSIC ESTABLISHMENT
THAT THIS NEW WAY OF TEACHING IS
BETTER, BUT RIGHT NOW WE JUST
NEED TO CONVINCE PARENTS, AND
THE EASIEST WAY TO CONVINCE
PARENTS IS WHEN THEY WATCH THEIR
SON OR DAUGHTER FALL IN LOVE
WITH MUSIC.
>> THE BEST DECISION I MADE.
>> THE BEST DECISION YOU MADE?
>> THE BEST DECISION I MADE.
>> YES.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> Reporter: SHAHRZAD
SALESTANI’S DAUGHTER EILEE IS 9.
SASWATI SANYAL’S DAUGHTER AANIYA
IS 15.
AND JULIA YING’S SON IS AWAY AT
COLLEGE AFTER LESSONS AT PAYAM
MUSIC.
>> IT IS LIFE-CHANGING FOR
JONATHAN.
> IN WHAT WAY?
>> IN THE WAY THAT LEARNING CAN
BE FUN.
>> SO I SEE MY DAUGHTER, AANIYA,
TO BE MORE CONFIDENT AND YOU
FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.
SO THAT’S REALLY DIFFERENT ABOUT
THIS SCHOOL.
>> SO THEY’RE ALL HAVING FUN --
>> BUT THEY’RE LEARNING.
>> THEY WANT TO WORK HARD AT THE
PIANO?
>> MM-HMM. >> MM-HMM. >> IT’S CONTAGIOUS.
♪
>> WOW.
WOW.
AMAZING.
>> THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
>> SO TO THE SKEPTICS YOU SAY?
>> TRY IT ONCE AND YOU’LL
UNDERSTAND.
>> I’M DOING GREAT.
>> Reporter: WE COULDN’T RESIST
A PIANO LESSON 50 YEARS AFTER MY
LAST ONE.
>> BACK UP HERE?
>> EXACTLY.
PERFECT.
♪
>> AND THEN, LAST ONE.
♪
>> YOU DID IT.
YOU FISHED LEVEL 2.-- FINISHED L
>> HOW ABOUT THAT?
>> AMAZING.>> AMAZING. [ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
>> Announcer: IMPROVISING THE
CLASSICS.
♪
>> SAME SONG, BUT YOU HAVE A
DIFFERENT FEELING.
>> GO
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ]
>> Announcer: THE LAST MINUTE OF
"60 MINUTES" IS SPONSORED BY
UNITED HEALTHCARE, COVERAGE YOU
CAN COUNT ON FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE
AHEAD.
>>> AS THE NATION CELEBRATES 250
YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE, OSCAR
WINNER SALLY FIELD WANTED TO
SHARE SOMETHING SHE LEARNED AS A
CHILD IN VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA.
>> WHEN I WAS IN THE SEVENTH
GRADE, I WAS ASKED TO MEMORIZE
SOMETHING THAT I NEVER FORGOT.
"CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW IN
ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION OR
PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE
THEREOF OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM
OF SPEECH OR OF THE PRESS, OR
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE
PEACEFULLY TO ASSEMBLE."
IT’S THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE
U.S. CONSTITUTION.
I BARELY KNEW WHAT IT MEANT AT
THE TIME.
I CERTAINLY DIDN’T KNOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF IT, AND NOW ALMOST
67 YEARS LATER, I UNDERSTAND IT
LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT,
MAKE A SIGN, AND PEACEFULLY JOIN
A PROTEST WITHOUT FEAR OF
PUNISHMENT OR RETRIBUTION OR
WORSE.
I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS FRAGILE
THING CALLED DEMOCRACY NEEDS TO
BE PROTECTED, THAT THE
BRILLIANCE OF OUR CONSTITUTION
BEGINS WITH THE WORDS "WE THE
PEOPLE."
I BELIEVE IN THE RESILIENCE OF
OUR CONSTITUTION, AND I BELIEVE
IN THE GOODNESS AND STRENGTH OF
THE PEOPLE.
>> I’M SCOTT PELLEY.
WE’LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH