Astronomical Telegrams
Reporting planet-threatening rocks reminds me of the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams - a body whose role has obviously changed greatly since the need for actual telegrams disappeared. I read about it in the Grauniad's obituary of Brian Marsden, who had been its directory for a while (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/nov/23/brian-marsden-obituary). Quite fascinating to imagine telegram boys delivering news of a supernova on paper, 50 years ago!