Search for strangelets and the phase transition from ==================================================== nuclear to quark matter in Pb+Pb collisions at ============================================== $\sqrt{s}$ = 17 GeV per n+n collision ===================================== Sonja Kabana (Bern University) Abstract: --------- The NA52 experiment at the CERN SPS is searching for strange quark matter and for signatures of the phase transition of nuclear to quark and gluon matter in fixed target lead+lead collisions at 158 GeV per nucleon. The current results of this experiment will be presented and discussed in the light of other experimental data in the field of ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions. In particular there are hints that the QGP phase transition is currently observed in Pb+Pb collisions at top CERN SPS energy. A new series of experiments investigating nuclear collisions at SPS, RHIC and the LHC is underway which will help to clarify this matter.