60 Minutes: Dec 1

60 Minutes still has two more first-run episodes to come this year.

In the next edition, Karl Stefanovic spent a week in the Maldives searching for a blue whale.

What and give up show business?

Toxic Flyer
For some people, flying is an anxious white-knuckle ride as they carry a pressing fear that the aircraft will crash. But there’s another risk that may be far greater, which affects us all. It’s called Aerotoxic Syndrome and it’s caused by breathing contaminated cabin air. Some experts are calling it the asbestos of the airline industry – it can result in a range of serious health problems, even death. But what’s most shocking is the way aircraft manufacturers and operators have known about the problem for years and have done nothing about it.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Gareth Harvey

Pain Free
Imagine not being able to feel any pain. That’s the case for two amazing young girls called Ashlyn and Gabby. When they hit their head, they don’t feel a thing, bang their arm and it doesn’t even register – they can even cut themselves and feel nothing at all. The idea of being pain free sounds extraordinary but when you hear their stories you might change your mind. And, ironically, their condition just may lead to a breakthrough for those who suffer chronic pain.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Phil Goyen

Big Blue
It’s difficult to imagine the size of a blue whale until you come alongside one. They are the biggest creature to have ever lived. But as big as they are, we know precious little about them. Hunted almost to extinction just a few decades ago, we’re now missing vital information about how to protect the blue whale. Karl Stefanovic spent a week searching the turquoise waters of the Maldives for these magnificent beasts, along with a group of Aussie scientists desperate to save them.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producer: Hannah Boocock

Death Defying
It was the comedy hit of 2011. The Hang Over Part II grossed $600 million at the box office. But behind the scenes the laughs turned to tragedy when Aussie Scott McLean was nearly killed in a stunt that went terribly wrong. Scott fought hard to stay alive and spent thousands of hours in rehab trying to get his life back on track. Two years later he returned to thank the doctors who saved him.
Reporter: Peter Overton
Producer: Hannah Boocock

7:30pm Sunday on Nine.