The less savory aspects of Michael’s life and/or death are not off-topic for me. They are just as much a part of what made him who he was (and is) as the good stuff.

The 1984 Pepsi incident where his head caught fire is one of those. It wasn’t a one-and-done deal; superfans have known for decades that it was something he struggled with the rest of his life. However it wasn’t easy to figure out; we only had a few biographical accounts to piece together the impact and continuing effects of it. Only those who fully absorbed what they meant understood how severe his injuries were.

It’s an unfortunate but simple fact that the Pepsi incident injured Michael in a way that he never fully recovered from. He spent the rest of his life treating it and attempting to alleviate the symptoms he suffered. These snowballed over the years and opened the path that led him to his death.

Today I Learned Science released this 27-minute essay on Michael’s 68th birthday last week that draws the throughput of the Pepsi burn to Michael’s death. I appreciate that it doesn’t sensationalize or judge how Michael lived his life. It doesn’t gloss over the reality of what he was doing, either, nor does it blame him for his death. It just factually, scientifically, explains details about the injury, his attempts to treat it, and the possible short and long-term impacts of the drugs he took to alleviate his symptoms.

If you have a half-hour, it’s worth a watch.