 He has written papers on the development of science, such as an essay on scientific illustration and an 18,000-word essay on scientific publishing in the 18th century.One of his best known discoveries is the original specimens of Antony van Leeuwenhoek.They were sent to the Royal Society of London in the 17th century and remained there until 1981 when Ford found the Leeuwenhoek specimens hidden in the letters and he then submitted them to extensive microscopical examination using both old and new microscopes.